Heartwater in Ghana: implications for control of ticks

Heartwater, an often fatal rickettsial disease of domestic ruminants transmitted by Amblyomma variegatum ticks, ranks with the A. variegatum-associated skin disease dermatophilosis as a major constraint to the upgrading of livestock productivity in Ghana. An epidemiological survey, using new diagnostic tests, is being carried out to determine the incidence and distribution of heartwater and other tickborne diseases in Ghanaian cattle, sheep and goats. Preliminary results from a longitudinal survey being carried out at sites in the Greater Accra Region indicating that although the vector ticks and the disease agent are widespread outside urban areas, not all animals are being exposed to heartwater during the first few months of life when an inverse age related resistance allows development of immunity without clinical disease. Thus a susceptible sub-population, at risk from heartwater, can exist even in areas of high tick challenge. The significance of these results for present and future tick and disease control strategies is discussed.