Diseases carried by ticks
Practical Action
!WARENING: NOTIFIABLE DISEASE
If you suspect an animal has heartwater, you must inform the authorities
immediately.
Treatment
Boil 0.25 kg of roots and 0.25 kg of bark of soget (Warburgia ugandensis) in 1 litre of
water. Sieve and drench 300 ml per day for adult cattle (75 ml for sheep) for 3 days.
(Cattle, sheep; Kipsigis, 3)
Take 1 handful of ombulu (Abrus precatorius) roots and leaves (1 part of roots and 3 parts
of leaves), and 1 handful of ochuoga (Carissa edulis), in the same proportion of roots and
leaves. Boil in 4 litres of water for 1 hour. When cooled, pour 0.25 litre of the liquid into
the animal's nostrils. Drench with 0.5 litre. Repeat twice a day until the animal recovers.
(Cattle, goats, sheep; Luo, 3)
Trypanosomosis (nagana, surra)
Trypanosomosis is transmitted by tsetse flies (see Tsetse
flies) and biting flies (see Bitingflies). It causes low
production and death in camels, cattle, dogs, donkeys, goats
and sheep. The disease can take either a short or a long
time, depending on the type of animal infected and the type
of trypansome protozoan that causes the disease (see Causes
below). Some breeds of livestock are relatively resistant to
the disease.
Signs
Dull, lustreless hair.
The animal does not eat.
Progressive deterioration of body condition.
Reduced milk production.
The animal has a foul smell that
herders recognise.
Blood oozing from the ears, mouth and
nostrils (in some forms of the disease).
Paleness on gums, under the tongue
and inside the eyes.
Enlarged superficial glands.
Abortion in pregnant females.
Death if untreated.
Also known as
Ghandi (Gabbra), kamosu, kisiko
(Kamba), kayangat (Kipsigis),
dorobo (Maasai), mutombo
(Meru), ltikana (Samburu), dukan
(Somali Ethiopia and
Kenya), dorobo, malale (Swahili),
lotorobwo (Turkana)
!WARENING: NOTIFIABLE DISEASE
If you suspect an animal has trypanosomosis, you must inform the authorities immediately.
Cause
Trypanosome protozoans (tiny, one-celled organisms).
Different types of these
protozoans cause different forms of trypanosomosis
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