An Overview of the New Vaccine Targeting Cattle Ticks in Uganda

December 15, 2022 at 2:01 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 eastern Africa, resulting in loss of productivity and mortalities. They are among the leading causative agents of diseases in cattle. East Coast Fever for instance causes up to 100% mortalities in untreated exotic European breeds and their crosses. It also contributes 30% losses in calves of local zebu cattle, which depletes the stock for replacement of the national herd. Ticks are vectors of tick-borne pathogens and their control is by acaricides. For livestock farmers, the present methods of tick control using acaricides, have become costly and ineffective due to increasing acaricide tick resistance. This discourages investment in the livestock sector and can lead to food insecurity, thereby impacting on the economy. Alternative methods that reduce the use of acaricides and protect cattle from the risk of tick-borne diseases are urgently needed.