Animal health is an essential element for improving livestock performances. Cattle breeding is confronted with several pathologies, especially parasitic. The general objective of this study is to determine the factors favoring the infestation of Boophilus microplus and their consequences on cattle farms in the communes of Parakou and Tchaourou.
This biological material is constituted of a total of one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven (1337) large ruminants, of which we have Borgou, Yakana, Azawack, Goudali, Half-breed and Girolondo breeds. Sixteen (16) farms per commune were chosen and surveyed, in total thirty-two (32) farms of large ruminants. Ticks ​​were collected on 08 (eight) farms per commune with a rate of 10%. The samples collected were analyzed at the Veterinary Diagnostic and Sero-surveillance Laboratory and then precisely in the parasitology section. The technique used was to recognize and classify ticks in their genus by using a USB microscope and a computer.
Farms surveyed are equitably divided into two districts, including one district per commune or 50% in each of the communes of Parakou and Tchaourou.
The total number of large ruminants involved was 1337 with an average of 39.44 and a standard deviation of 28.424. Our investigators revealed that 100% of our sample, 32 farms were affected by this tick. This allowed us to identify six factors that could be causing its appearance. We can therefore mention among others: Lack of cleaning, exotic breeds, fodder, rain, high humidity, humidity and exotic breeds. Two of these factors are highly representative: humidity rate and exotic breeds. We have observed two kinds of ticks namely: Boophilus and Amblyomma.
This study on the typology of cattle breeding and consequences of infestations to Boophilus microplus in the communes of Parakou and Tchaourou, allowed us initially to develop a typology of these farms. In a second step, we identified the factors favoring infestation by Boophilus microplus in the communes of Parakou and Tchaourou. It also allowed us to identify the consequences of diseases caused by Boophilus microplus in the two communes.