ArticleBMC veterinary research2025
Molecular characterisation of tick-borne pathogens in cattle in kenya: insights from blood, ticks, and skin swab analyses.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- African tick-borne viruses: A systematic review of diversity, epidemiology, clinical impact, and one health strategies.Veterinary research communications · 2026Pooled it
- Mosquito-based xenosurveillance reveals circulation of Anaplasma and Neoehrlichia in livestock at a human-wildlife interface in Kenya.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Article
- Molecular characterization ofFrontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
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8 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTicks pose a major threat to livestock and human health in sub-Saharan Africa, with climate change and pastoral movements fueling their spread. Few studies have integrated multiple sample types to characterize tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in cattle in Kenya. This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective surveillance and control strategies, leaving vulnerable populations and their livestock susceptible to these persistent threats.
methodsWe screened 280 bovine blood samples, 589 tick pools, and 284 non-invasive skin swabs from cattle in northern (Marsabit) and southern (Kajiado) Kenya by high-resolution melting analysis and Sanger sequencing of PCR products.
resultsRhipicephalus spp. (47.1%), Hyalomma spp. (30.8%), and Amblyomma spp. (22.1%) were prevalent, with Rhipicephalus evertsi only found in Kajiado and Rhipicephalus camicasi in Marsabit. In blood, Anaplasma spp. (62.9%; A. marginale, A. platys, A. ovis) and Theileria spp. (34.6%; T. velifera, T. mutans) were dominant. Tick pools harbored Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Anaplasma marginale, Theileria velifera, T. ovis, and Babesia occultans, and for the first time two co-circulating Ehrlichia ruminantium strains (Welgevonden and Kumm2). Notably, C. burnetii and T. ovis were detected only in Marsabit, and T. mutans only in Kajiado. Skin swabs from tick predilection sites (ears, anal region) yielded R. africae, R. aeschlimannii, and T. velifera at low positivity, while nose swabs were negative.
conclusionsDetection of zoonotic pathogens such as C. burnetii and R. africae underscores critical public health risks, and co-infections in cattle reinforce the need for robust, integrated surveillance. Although skin swabs demonstrated limited diagnostic yield, they remain a promising non-invasive sampling approach. These findings highlight the value of targeted acarological research and coordinated control programs under a One Health framework.
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