Preliminary study on the tick population of Benin wildlife at the moment of its invasion by the Rhipicephalus microplus tick (Canestrini, 1888)

Vet World Vol.11 June-2018 Article-18

Research Article

Veterinary World, 11(6): 845-851

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2018.845-851

Kossi Justin Adinci¹, Yao Akpo², Camus Adoligbe¹, Safiou Bienvenu Adehan³, Roland Eric Yessinou¹, Akoeugnigan Idelphonse Sode⁴, Guy Appolinaire Mensah³, Abdou Karim Issaka Youssao¹, Brice Sinsin⁵, and Souaibou Farougou¹

1. Laboratory of Research in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box 2009, Cotonou, Benin.
2. Laboratory of Ecology, Health and Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, P.O. Box 123 Parakou, Benin.
3. National Institute for Scientific Research, Research Center of Agonkanmey (CRA/INRAB), Benin.
4. Laboratory of Biomathematics and Forest Estimations Faculty of Agronomic Sciences (FSA) University of Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou (Benin).
5. Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences (FSA), University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin), 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.

Background and Aim: Rhipicephalus microplus (Rm) is one of the most problematic livestock tick species in the world. Its rapid propagation and resistance to acaricides make it control difficult in the sub-region and Benin particularly. The aim of this work was to check its presence in wildlife and to confirm the possible role of reservoir wildlife may play in the propagation of the parasite. This will help to design more efficient control strategy.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from February to March 2017 in the National Parks of Benin (Pendjari and W Park) and wildfowl's assembly and selling point in Benin. Ticks were manually picked with forceps from each animal after slaughtering by hunters then stored in 70° ethanol. Collected ticks were counted and identified in the laboratory using the identification key as described by Walker.

Results: Overall, seven species of ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus, Rm, Boophilus spp., Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus spp.) were identified on nine wild animal species sampled (Cane rat, wildcat, Hare, Doe, Cricetoma, Buffalo, Buffon Cobe, and Bushbuck and Warthog). The average number of ticks varies from 3 to 6 between animal species, 3 to 7 between localities visited, and 2 to 5 between tick species. However, these differences are statistically significant only for localities. Considering tick species and animal species, the parasite load of Rm and Rhipicephalus spp. is higher; the buffalo being more infested. The analysis of deviance reveals that the abundance of ticks observed depends only on the observed localities (p>0.05). However, the interactions between animal species and localities on the one hand and between animal and tick species on the other hand, although not significant, have influenced the abundance of ticks as they reduce the residual deviance after their inclusion in the model.

Conclusion: This study reported the presence of Rm in wildlife of Benin and confirmed its role in the maintenance and spread of the parasites. It is, therefore, an important risk factor that we must not neglect in the epidemiological surveillance and ticks control strategies in the West African sub-region and particularly in Benin. Keywords: Benin, Rhipicephalus microplus, ticks, wild animals.

Keywords: Benin, Rhipicephalus microplus, ticks, wild animals.

How to cite this article: Adinci KJ, Akpo Y, Adoligbe C, Adehan SB, Yessinou RE, Sode AI, Mensah GA, Youssao AKI, Sinsin B, Farougou S (2018) Preliminary study on the tick population of Benin wildlife at the moment of its invasion by the Rhipicephalus microplus tick (Canestrini, 1888), Veterinary World, 11(6): 845-851.

Received: 11-01-2018 Accepted: 17-05-2018 Published online: 25-06-2018

Corresponding author: Kossi Justin Adinci E-mail: justinmario8@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.845-851

Copyright: Adinci, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.