Prevalence, trend comparisons, and identification of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) among cattle in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens are the main challenge to livestock production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, where favorable conditions exist for the activity of various parasites due to its geographical location, climate, and biological and cultural characteristics. This study was to provide pooled estimates for individually available data on ixodid ticks, their trend comparisons, and ixodid tick grouping among cattle in Ethiopia. Cochrane's Q, I2, sensitivity analysis, funnel plot, Begg, and Egger regression tests were used to check heterogeneity and publication bias. A random effect model was used to calculate the pooled burden of ixodid ticks among cattle. A total of 17,161 cattle were included in the 41 eligible studies for this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of ixodid ticks among cattle was 64.42% (95% CI = 57.13–71.71). A total of 82,804 adult ticks belonging to three different genera of ixodid ticks, namely Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) (47.53%), Amblyomma (46.10%), and Hyalomma (6.37%), were recorded from the included studies. The general trend for the prevalence of ixodid tick infestation among cattle has decreased, from 68.65% in 2010–2015 to 60.13% in 2021–2023. Under the present scenario, the ixodid tick infestation ranges from 59.21 to 89.58% and is higher in the study in cattle from the Gambella region.