A Survey of Tick Infestation and Tick-Borne Piroplasm Infection of Cattle in Oudalan and Séno Provinces, Northern Burkina Faso

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Résumé

Abstract: In this study, cattle farms located in Oudalan and Séno, two provinces in the Sahel region,
northern Burkina Faso, were surveyed. Cattle owners were interviewed, cattle were examined for tick
infestation, and ticks as well as blood samples were collected during the dry season (October). Blood
DNA samples were tested for Babesia and Theileria infections using nested PCRs and sequencing.
A total of 22 herds, 174 Zebu cattle were investigated at 6 different sites. Overall, 76 cattle (43.7 %)
from 18 farms (81.8%) were found infested with ticks. Cattle in Séno, adult cattle (>5 years) and
those owned by the Fulani ethnic group were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to be tick-infested.
A total of 144 adult ticks belonging to five species namely: Hyalomma impeltatum, Hyalomma impressum,
Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, and Rhipicephalus guilhoni were collected from the
animals. Piroplasms were detected in the blood DNA of 23 (13.2%) cattle. The cattle in Séno and adult
cattle were significantly more likely to be piroplasm-positive. Five pathogens diversely distributed
were identified. Theileria mutans (12/174), Babesia bigemina (5/174), Theileria annulata (3/174), and
Theileria velifera (3/174) were detected for the first time in northern Burkina Faso, whereas Babesia
occultans (1/174) was found for the first time in cattle inWest Africa. The analysis of the sequences,
including B. bigemina RAP-1a, T. annulata Tams1 genes, and the 18S rRNA genes of all the five protozoa,
revealed identities ranging from 98.4 to 100% with previously published sequences. Phylogenetic
analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences located north Burkina Faso piroplasms in the same
clade as isolates from Africa and other regions of the world. Notably, T. mutans sequences were
distributed in two clades: the T. mutans Intona strain clade and the Theileria sp. (strain MSD)/ Theileria
sp. B15a clade, suggesting the presence of at least two strains in the area. These findings indicate
that the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases should be taken into account in strategies to improve
animal health in the Sahel region.

Mots-clés

Babesia, Burkina Faso, cattle, epidemiology, Theileria, tick species