Epidemiological study on Ixodid tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens on cattle in Awi Zone, northwest Ethiopia.

The overall prevalence of Ixodid tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens were 45% and 3%, respectively. Babesia bigemina was the only haemoparasite detected in the present survey. Potential risk factors were investigated for their association with tick infestation and B. bigemina using logistic regression and chi-square test, respectively. Accordingly, age, body condition, agroecological systems and season were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with tick infestation whereas season and body condition were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with B. bigemina infection. A total seven tick species were identified. Amblyomma varigatum (55%) and Boophilus decoloratus (15.7%) were the predominant Ixodid tick species encountered. A total of 128 blood samples were collected from Jawi district and examined using thin blood smear. Of them, 3% were infected by the B. bigemina CONCLUSIONS: Tick infestation in this study was high and seems to play vital role for the reduction of production, productivity and for the transmission B. bigemina. Therefore, sound and effective tick control and prevention strategies are needed to mitigate the risk factors for tick infestation and B. bigemina infection in Ethiopia.