Dr. Etiang Patrick, a Lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences at Busitema University, has successfully earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University. His doctoral research provides critical insights into the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial infections in cattle in Uganda’s Karamoja region, a vital contribution to livestock health and pastoralist livelihoods.

The study, titled “Epidemiology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Protozoan and Rickettsial Infections of Cattle in Karamoja Region, Uganda,” investigates the prevalence, distribution, and diversity of tick species and the pathogens they carry, while also exploring the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pastoralists regarding tick-borne diseases (TTBD). Livestock production is a cornerstone of the social and economic livelihoods of communities in Karamoja, and tick-borne infections pose a major challenge to productivity and household incomes.

To generate comprehensive data, Dr. Etiang conducted a cross-sectional survey of 3,540 cattle from 59 villages across six districts, covering both wet and dry seasons. Fieldwork involved the collection of ticks and blood samples to identify tick species and detect haemoparasites, including Babesia bigemina, B. bovis, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia ruminantium, and Theileria parva. In parallel, a qualitative survey captured pastoralists’ perceptions of tick-borne diseases, their prevention strategies, and challenges in controlling these infections.

The study revealed that tick-borne diseases, particularly anaplasmosis and East Coast Fever (ECF), were perceived as the most significant livestock diseases by pastoralists, due to high case fatality rates, morbidity, and treatment costs. Pastoralists identified acaricide application and curative treatments as the most effective preventive measures, whereas practices such as bush burning, handpicking ticks, pricking, or vaccination were considered less effective. Key barriers to effective disease control included limited finances for veterinary inputs, scarce veterinary services, lack of drugs, inadequate knowledge on disease diagnosis/treatment, and insecurity.

In terms of tick prevalence, 15 tick species from three genera were identified. The most dominant species were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (37.9%) and Amblyomma variegatum (32.3%), followed by A. lepidum (17.3%), R. evertsi evertsi (7.8%), and R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (1.4%). The distribution of ticks varied across districts but was relatively similar between wet and dry seasons. Mixed tick infestations were common, with cattle often harboring multiple tick species simultaneously.

Regarding pathogen prevalence, approximately 39% of cattle tested positive for at least one tick-borne haemoparasite in both dry and wet seasons. The most common infections in the dry season were B. bigemina and B. bovis (11.8% each), followed by A. marginale (9.2%), E. ruminantium (5.1%), and T. parva (1.3%). In the rainy season, T. parva prevalence increased to 22.6%. Factors influencing infection risk included geospatial location, cattle age, sex, overnight kraaling, and breed.

Molecular analyses provided deeper insights into pathogen diversity. For instance, MSP4 gene sequences of A. marginale clustered into two groups, showing minimal nucleotide variation, while T. parva p104 gene sequences displayed four distinct clusters, illustrating regional isolate diversity. B. bigemina rap-1a sequences closely matched published sequences from Uganda, Tanzania, and India, while B. bovis sbp2 sequences were highly conserved, identical to the Chinese T2Bo strain, suggesting shared origins. Haplotype diversity analyses indicated high genetic diversity in some pathogens (e.g., A. marginale) and low diversity in others (e.g., B. bovis), reflecting both local and global evolutionary patterns.

Dr. Etiang’s research highlights that tick-borne diseases are a major constraint to livestock production in Karamoja, and that pastoralist knowledge, vector control, and disease management practices require strengthening. The study provides actionable recommendations for animal health advocacy, improved vector control programs, livestock movement regulation, and farmer sensitisation on TTBD epidemiology.

For more on Dr. Etyang's Study