A comparison of field tick infestation on N'Dama, Zebu and N'Dama x Zebu crossbred cattle.

Tick burdens, estimated from cumulative tick counts, were determined on N'Dama, Zebu and F1 N'Dama x Zebu crossbred cattle. N'Dama showed significantly fewer ticks than the Zebu and F1 cattle (P < 0.001). A previous trypanosomosis infection did not affect tick burdens on the three genotypes. Amblyomma variegatum had a prevalence of 84.8% and Hyalomma spp. 15.2%, with the ratio similar on all cattle breeds. Trypanosomosis infection increased the serological prevalence of Anaplasma marginale in Zebu and F1 cattle but not in N'Dama cattle. These observations supported the view that N'Dama cattle are less susceptible to tick attachment than Zebu cattle.