Is an animal that harbours an infectious agent.
Published in Chapter:
Epidemiology and Economic Importance of Tick-Borne Diseases of Cattle in Africa
Donald Lubembe Mukolwe (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Egerton University, Kenya), Charles Byaruhanga (National Agricultural Research Organisation, Uganda), and Fredrick Ojiambo Obonyo (School of Agriculture and Food Science, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenya)
Copyright: © 2021
|Pages: 22
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-6433-2.ch007
Abstract
The tropical and sub-tropical climate in Africa favours multiplication and maintenance of tick vectors and transmission of various pathogens to cattle. Key challenges including acaricide resistance, policy issues, transboundary animal movements, and inadequate veterinary services compromise effective control of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This chapter discusses important host, pathogen, climatic, and management factors that impact the control of TBDs among cattle in Africa, and which affect the productivity and overall contribution to economic development. The economic losses in cattle production attributed to tick infestation and TBDs in Africa are also reviewed. The use of a sustainable integrated control approach, including vaccination, strategic tick control, surveillance for acaricide resistance, and multi-stakeholder involvement is also evaluated.