Cattle ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens in Burkina Faso and Benin: Apparent northern spread of Rhipicephalus microplus in Benin and first evidence of Theileria velifera and Theileria annulata

Babesiosis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, and heartwater are tick-borne diseases that threaten livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa including Burkina Faso Benin. For over a decade, these two bordering countries have been facing an invasion of the by tick Rhipicephalus microplus, major vector for babesiosis, accidentally introduced Benin 2004. The molecular identification pathogens this border area is particular interest due to animals seasonal migration between countries. In survey, epidemiological features ticks cattle were investigated compare eastern Faso, corresponding departure zone, northern Benin, which represents arrival zone. Ticks peripheral blood collected from total 946 areas. morphologically identified DNA samples bovine analysed Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridization process. A 2856 on 490 eight species identified, while 3583 456 North with nine identified. invasive tick, R. microplus was not found but its spread farthest north reported. Six pathogen both Ranked decreasing order overall prevalences, they are: Theileria mutans (91.1%), velifera (77.8%), Babesia bigemina (10.9%), Anaplasma marginale (4.2%), bovis (3.3%), annulata (1.8%). To best our knowledge, survey first report T. region. Overall, TBP prevalences significantly higher than indicating parasitological risk area.