| dc.description.abstract | Control of ticks and tick-borne diseases is of paramount importance to the development
and sustanability of the livestock industry in Africa. It is especially essential to control the brown
ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, which is the field vector of Theileria parva
causing East coast fever (ECF). One infected tick of this species feeding on a susceptible animal
for 24 hours can transmit ECF, which often is fatal to cattle.
The conventional method of controlling tick infestation in Africa is by the application of
acaricides, either by immersion of cattle in dip tanks, running them through spray races or by hand
spraying or dressing. These procedures are in one way or another expensive, time-consuming, not
always effective and can reduce productivity of the cattle and like any other chemical, pollutes the
environment.......................... | |
