Prevalence of ticks infesting grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck, 1827) in the south of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Objective: Ticks play a significant role in the transmission of pathogenic agents to animals. In Côte d'Ivoire, there is little information on those of grasscutters.
Methodology and results: Thus, 150 wild grasscutters and 150 farm grasscutters from the south of Côte d'Ivoire were examined from April 2010 to October 2012. Ticks collected were identified under binocular lens and optical microscope. The species identified were confirmed at CIRDES (Bobo-Dioulasso). The species Ixodes aulacodi, Rhipicephalus simpsoni, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Amblyomma compressum and Haemaphysalis leachi were identified. Farm grasscutters were not infested but 92% of wild grasscutters were infested by at least one species. The most abundant species was I. aulacodi. It accounted for 67.98% of all collected ticks and was encountered on 75.33% of wild grasscutters. The second one was R. simpsoni (29.11% of collected ticks and collected on 54% of wild grasscutters). The three other species were slightly encountered (less than 2% of collected ticks and prevalence lower than 7%). Similarly, the infestation level by I. aulacodi was the highest (7±5 ticks per grasscutter against less than 4 for the others).Ticks belonging to R. simpsoni, R. microplus and Ha. leachi were adults. On the other hand, 9.16% of I. aulacodi and 25% of A. compressum were nymphs.
Conclusion and application of results: Farm grasscutters in Côte d'Ivoire do not carry some ticks. But five species were found on wild grasscutters. Ticks and pathogenic agents that they transmit and for which some are responsible for zoonosis, could constitute a major obstacle for the development of grasscutters’ farming and constitute a problem of public health. This study gives an update on diversity and database information for surveillance and prevention of zoonosis and their vectors.

Keywords: grasscutters, Ticks, Prevalence, Côte d’Ivoire.