Understanding East Coast Fever–Tickborne Diseases in Uganda

April 3, 2025 at 1:52 pm by Admin

Ticks are among the most important vectors of pathogens that cause some of the most devastating tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in the livestock sector in East, Central and Southern Africa. In Uganda, three tick species are responsible for 90% of cattle's most economically debilitating diseases. The R. appendiculatus tick is the most widely spread of these three. It causes East Coast Fever (ECF), a cattle disease that causes up to 100% mortality in untreated exotic European breeds and their crosses. It is responsible for 30% of the losses in calves of local zebu cattle in Uganda. East Coast Fever remains the most prevalent and economically significant tick-borne disease facing Uganda’s livestock sector, contributing to almost 60 percent of losses in beef production and 48% of losses in milk production. These kinds of losses are not sustainable for either farmers or investment in the livestock sector and the economy. This article provides an in-depth overview of East Coast Fever, its causative agent, regional distribution, clinical signs, as well as new control and preventative measures anticipated to help farmers safeguard their livestock herd, including a look at TicVac-U, the new candidate vaccine for tick-borne East Coast Fever.