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*Corresponding author: 

  Email: addisk2013@gmail.com,  +251 909 164446  https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/eajbcs.v3i1.3S  

 
 

 

 

Infestation of Ixodidae Ticks in Cattle: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Ambo District, 

Western Ethiopia  

 

Addis Kassahun Gebremeskel*, Berhanu Mekibib and Bekele Dabassa 

 

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, 

P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia 

 

 

KEYWORDS:  

Ambo district;  

Cattle;  

Ectoparasites;  

Prevalence;  

Risk factors;  

Ticks 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT 

In Ethiopia, ticks cause serious economic loss particularly in ruminants. A cross sectional 

study was undertaken in Ambo district, Western Ethiopia from October, 2018 to June, 

2019 with the major aim of estimating the prevalence, identifying the associated risk 

factors and the tick species of cattle in the area. From five purposively selected kebeles 

(the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia) of the district, a total of 384 cattle were 

selected by systematic random sampling method. Adult Ixodid ticks were collected from 

different body parts of infested cattle, preserved in 10% formalin and transported to Ambo 

University Veterinary Parasitology Laboratory for stereomicroscopic identification to 

species level. Among 384 cattle examined, 201 (52.34%) cattle were infested with one or 

two tick species. Higher prevalence of tick infestation was recorded in Degele Gatira 

kebele (53.25%), followed by Abebe Doyo (50.65%), Gosu Kora (50.65%), Kisose Liban 

(50.65%) and Senkele Faris (56.59%). The study investigated three genera of Ixodid ticks 

namely Rhipicephalus (41.7%), Boophilus (0.8%) and Amblyomma (2.60%). Mixed 

infestations were common including Rh. Boophilus and Amblyomma 24(6.25%) and Rh. 

Boophilus and Rhipicephalus 4(1.04%). The study identified four species of ticks; namely 

Rh. (Bo.) decoloratus 109 (28.40%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus 43(11.20%), 

Amblyomma vareigatum 3(0.80%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi 11(2.90%). The 

difference in tick infestation was statistically insignificant (P >0.05) between different age 

groups and kebeles but statistically significant (P <0.05) among sex groups, breeds and 

different body condition scores (P <0.05). In conclusion, this study indicated high 

prevalence of tick infestation and identified most important ticks that can transmit various 

livestock diseases. Proper tick eradication campaign should be conducted to decrease the 

tick burden in the study area, and concomitantly reduce tick-borne diseases and associated 

economic losses. 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

Ethiopia has an enormous and diverse livestock 

population that plays an important role in the 

economy and livelihoods of farmers and 

pastoralists (Akande et al., 2010). The country 

has 65 million cattle, 40 million sheep, 51 

million goats, 8 million camels and 49 million 

chickens. From the total cattle population, 

97.8%, 1.9% and 0.3% cattle are indigenous, 

hybrid and exotic, respectively (CSA, 2020). 

East African Journal of Biophysical and Computational Sciences 

Journal homepage : https://journals.hu.edu.et/hu-journals/index.php/eajbcs 

  
Hawassa University

College of Natural & Computational Sciences

Year 2021

Volume xx No xx

 
Research article

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https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/eajbcs.v3i1.3S


    
 

18 
 

Despite the large animal population, their 

productivity is low due to poor nutrition, 

reproduction insufficiency, management 

constraints and prevailing livestock diseases 

(Bekele et al., 2010).  

Parasitic diseases are among the major problems 

of domestic animals causing serious economic 

loss (Shiferaw, 2018). Ectoparasites are 

organisms which inhibits the skin or outgrowth 

of the skin of the host for various periods 

(Hopla et al., 1994). In Ethiopia, Ectoparasites 

in ruminant causes serious economic losses to 

small holder farmers, the tanning industry and 

the country as a whole through mortality, 

decreased production, downgrading and 

rejection of skin and hide (Peter, 2005). 

Ectoparasites can live permanently on their host, 

or they may occupy the host’s nest and 

immediate environment, and visit the body of 

the host periodically (Gross et al., 2005). In 

either case, there is a close dependency on the 

host for various life sustaining resources 

(Gonzalez et al., 2004). From the Ectoparasites, 

ticks are ranked as the most economically 

important arthropods in tropics including sub-

Saharan Africa (Abdela, 2016).  

Ticks have adverse effect on livestock in several 

ways and parasitize a wide range of vertebrate 

hosts and transmit a wide variety of pathogenic 

agents than any other group of arthropods 

(Oliver, 1989; Belew and Mekonnen, 2011). 

Ticks transmit protozoa, bacterial, rickettsial 

and viral diseases. Moreover, Ticks down grade 

hide and skins quality and reduce milk and wool 

production, reduce productivity and increase 

susceptibility to the other diseases (de Castro, 

1997). Ticks can predispose animals to 

secondary attacks from other parasites such as 

screw worm flies and infection by pathogens 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     

    
    
     
     
     

 
 
 

     
 

        

      

      

       

        

          

 
       

  

        
       

        

 

   

East  Afr.  J.  Biophys.  Comput.  Sci. (2022), Vol. 3, No. 1, 17-22

such  as  Dermatophilos  congolensis,  the

causative  agent  of  streptothricosis  (Desta,

2010).  There  are  various  cattle  tick-borne

diseases  in  Ethiopia  such  as  anaplasmosis,

babesiosis,  theileriosis  (Mekonnen  et  al.,  1992)

and streptothricosis (Surafel and Amsalu, 2019).

Despite the known or existing challenges and the

prevalence  of  tick-related  problems  in  Ethiopia,

there  is  a  clear  and  notable  lack  of  documented

information  regarding  the  specific  species  and

associated  risk  factors  of  ticks  in  cattle  within

the study area. Therefore, the current  study was

designed  and  implemented  with  the  objectives

of  estimating  the  prevalence  of  tick  infestation,

identifying  the  existing  species  of  ticks  and

assessing  the  potential  risk  factors  associated

with the  occurrence of hard ticks (Ixoid) in cattle
in Ambo  district, western Ethiopia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Description of the study area

The  study  was  conducted  in  five  kebeles  (The 

smallest  administrative  unit  of  Ethiopia)  of 

Ambo  district  namely  Degele  Gatra,  Abebe 

Doyo,  Gosu  Kora,  Kisose  Liben  and  Senkele 

Faris  from  October,  2018  to  June,  2019.  Ambo 

district  has  a  total  of  35  kebeles.  The  area  is 

lcated at latitude  and lngitude of 8°59'N, 37°

51'E,  respectively  and  an  elevation  of  2101m 

above sea level.  Ambo has livestock populations 

of 145, 371 cattle, 50,152 sheep, 27, 026 gats,

9,  088  hrses,  2,  914  donkeys  and  256  mules.

The  area  is  characterized  by  bi-modal  rainfall 

with  mean  annual  rainfall  of  1129mm  per  year 

and annual temperature ranging from 10 to 28oC 

(CSA, 2007;  Firaol  et al., 2014)  .



East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2022), Vol. 3, No. 1, 17-22 
 

19 
 

Study Design and Study population 

A cross sectional study was conducted on a total 

of 384 cattle randomly selected from the 

population. The study populations were includes 

both local and exotic breeds of cattle with 

different ages, sex and body condition cores.  

Out of the 35 kebeles found in the district, five 

kebeles were selected purposively for their 

accessibility and large cattle population. The 

age of the cattle was estimated based on the 

description given by Nicholson and Butterworth 

(1996), and then categorized as young (≤1 year), 

adult (1-3 years) and old (≥ 3 years). Similarly, 

based on their body condition scores, the cattle 

were classified as good, medium and poor.  

Sample Size Determination and Sampling 

Method 

The minimum sample size required for this 

study was determined according to the formula 

given by Thrusfield and Brown (2018). 

Accordingly, 95% cnfidence interval, 5% 

precision and 50% expected prevalence was 

used as there was no previous study conducted 

in the area.  

N =
𝑍2 ∗ 𝑃𝑒𝑥𝑝(1 − 𝑃𝑒𝑥𝑝)

𝑑2
 

Where, N= required sample size, Z= confidence 

interval (95%), Pexp= expected prevalence and 

d = desired absolute precision. Therefore, the 

computed sample size was 384. 

Collection & laboratory examination of ticks 

Animals’ body was visually examined for tick 

infestation and adult ticks were collected by 

using universal bottle containing 10% formalin. 

Each sample was correctly labeled (with age, 

sex, breed, Body condition and kebeles) and 

transported to Ambo University veterinary 

Parasitology Laboratory for identification to 

species level by using stereomicroscopic. Ticks 

identification was conducted following previous 

protocol described by Wall and Shearer (2001). 

Data analysis 

Data collected from the field and the laboratory 

were entered in to Micrsft Excel spread sheet 

and coded, and then analyzed using SPSS 

version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to 

know the prevalence of tick infestation, and 

association between the tick infestations and 

host risk factors (sex, age, breed, body condition 

score and kebeles) was assessed by Pearson Chi 

square test. 

RESULTS 

Out of 384 cattle examined, 201 (52.34%) were 

found infested with one or more ticks’ species. 

There were statistically significant (P<0.05) 

association between tick infestation and sex, 

breeds and body condition scores whereas it was 

statistically insignificant (P>0.05) with age 

groups and kebeles (Table 1). 

The study investigated three genera of adult 

Ixodid ticks; namely Rhipicephalus (41.7%), 

Boophilus (0.8%), Amblyomma (2.60%). Mixed 

infestations were common by Rhipicephalus 

(Boophilus) and Amblyomma 24(6.25%) and 

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) and Rhipicephalus 

4(1.04%) (Table 2). 

 

 

 

 



East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2022), Vol. 3, No. 1, 17-22 
 

20 
 

 

 

 

Risk factors Number examined Prevalence n (%) 2 p-value 

Age Young (1 year) 66 26(39.40) 1.3 0.515 

Adult (1-3 year) 195 107(54.90)   

Old (>3 year) 123 63(51.22)   

Sex Male 190 83(43.70) 11.3 0.001 

Female 194 118(60.62)   

Breed Local  298 144(48.32)   

HF 86 57(66.30) 8.6 0.003 

BCS 

 

Good 198 79(39.90)  

 

51.2 

 

 

0.000 

Medium 117 60(51.30) 

Poor 69 62(89.60) 

Kebele 

 

 

Degele Gatra 77 41(53.25) 

39(50.65) 

39(50.65) 

39(50.65) 

43(56.60) 

 

 

0.838 

 

 

0.933 

Abebe Doyo 77 

GosuKora 77 

KisoseLiben 77 

SenkeleFaris 76 

 

  

Genus of ticks Prevalence (%) 

    Amblyomma 3 (0.80) 

    Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) 160 (41.70) 

    Rhipicephalus 10 (2.60) 

   Amblyoma & Rhihipicephalus (Boophilus) 24 (6.25) 

   Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) & Rhipicephalus 4 (1.04) 

Total 201 (52.4) 

Species  

  Rh. (B.) annulatus 43 (11.20) 

  Rh. (B.) decoloratus 109 (28.40) 

  A. variegatum 3 (0.80) 

  Rh. e. evertsi 11 (2.90) 

  Rh. ( B.) annulatus & A. variegatum 3 (0.80) 

  Rh. (B.) annulatus & Rh.(B.) decolratus 6 (1.60) 

  Rh. (B.) decoloratus & Rh. e. evertsi 2(0.52) 

..Rh. (B.) decoloratus & A. variegatum 21(5.50) 

  Rh. (B.) annulatus & Rh. e. evertsi. 3(0.80) 

 

DISCUSSION 

The overall prevalence of tick infestation 

(52.34%) recorded in the current study is 

comparable with previous report made by 

Tadele et al. (2018) (51.30%). However, it was 

far lower than the finding of Dabasa et al. 

(2017) (98.20%) and higher than the report of 

33.21% by Surafel and Amsalu (2019). 

According to Pegram et al. (1981), tick 

activities and prevalence in a given area are 

affected by rainfall, temperature, altitude and 

atmospheric relative humidity and management 

Table 1: Relation between tick infestation and risk factors in Ambo district, western Ethiopia

Table 2: Distribution of tick genera in Ambo district, western Ethiopia  from October 2018 to June  2019



East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2022), Vol. 3, No. 1, 17-22 
 

21 

 

system including the use of accaricide and other 

preventive measures, agro-climatic condition 

and other epidemiological factors.  

Cross breed cattle were highly affected by tick 

infestation compared with local breed cattle. 

This finding was in line with the result of Belay 

and Enyew (2016). However, it disagrees with 

the report of Surafel and Amsalu (2019). The 

higher prevalence of tick infestation in cross and 

pure exotic breed animals might be attributed to 

preimmunity against ectoparasites, which often 

established through contacts with the parasites 

at the early stage of their life (Ahmed et al., 

2012). 

The proportion of infestation was higher in adult 

and old animals as compared to young animals, 

which was most likely due to outdoor 

management and long distant mobilization of 

adult and old animals in search of feed and 

water as the result the chance of exposure to tick 

could be higher than that of younger animals 

(Sutherst and Maywald, 1983). In the current 

study, female cattle were more infested by tick 

(60.82%) than male cattle (54.90%). This 

finding was in line with the report of Shichibi et 

al. (2017) in Masha district. This could be partly 

explained by the high chance of physiological 

stress (pregnancy or lactation) which create 

favorable conditions to tick infestation and other 

external parasite infestations (Sutherst and 

Maywald, 1983). 

Higher prevalence of tick infestation was 

recorded in thin cattle compared to medium and 

good body conditioned animals. This result was 

comparable with reports of Fanos et al. (2012) 

who conducted similar study in and around 

Mizan Teferi, Southwestern Ethiopia. However, 

it contradict with a study conducted in Gozamin 

Woreda, East Gojjam (Tadele et al., 2018). 

Animals with poor body condition had reduced 

resistance to tick infestation, lack of enough 

body potential to build resistance and they 

exposed to any kind of diseases when grazing 

on the field (Manan et al., 2007). On the other 

possible scenario, the poor body condition 

observed in those cattle with tick infestation 

could be due to the effect of the parasite on the 

energy balance of the animal. 

In this study Rh. (B.) decolaratus was most 

abundant tick species (28.40%). This result was 

in line with Wasihun and Doda (2013) who 

reported a prevalence of 30.63% for this tick 

from Humbo district. In contrast to Amante et 

al. (2014), the current finding was lower. The 

variations could be due to the difference in the 

geographic area, climate, altitude and season 

during tick collection. Furthermore, Rh. 

e.evertsi was the third abundant tick species 

(6.72%) of the total adult tick collected. This 

result was slightly in line with the report of 

Abebe et al. (2010) who conducted similar 

study in Somali region, Ethiopia. 

CONCLUSION 

Tick infestation is the common problem in the 

study area that occurs on every other animal. 

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus are the 

leading genus of ticks affecting mainly exotic 

and cross breed, female cattle with poor body 

condition of adult to old age in the study area. 

Although, the prevalence of ticks was high in 

the study area, proper policies and strategies are 

not yet in place to control ticks and other 

external parasites. Therefore, sustainable tick 

control program should be introduced in order 

minimize the prevalence to the lowest level so 

that tick borne diseases and other tick associated 

problems can be prevented. 

 

Acknowledgment  

The authors would like to thank Hawassa 

University and Ambo University for supporting 

this study. 

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