Ethnoveterinary practices for control of ticks in Africa

Abstract

Ethnoveterinary practices, including the use of ethnoveterinary plants, are used widely in Africa for treatment of livestock ailments, including ticks and tick-borne diseases. Ethnoveterinary practices are cheap and rely on the use of easily and locally available resources. The objective of this chapter is to collate information on the anti-tick ethnoveterinary practices in different parts of Africa for a holistic appreciation of anti-tick practices used in Africa with the view of facilitating identification of synergies, divergences, and comparative analysis at a continental-wide level. The information on ethnoveterinary plants and practices is sourced from secondary data by searching in well-known databases. The study reveals that besides South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Ethiopia, information on ethnoveterinary practices for tick control for most of the countries within Africa are scanty, warranting ethnobotanical surveys in these countries to fill the existing data gaps. The study further shows that less than 50% of ethnoveterinary plants have been validated scientifically, opening up opportunities for interesting pharmacological investigation. The study also highlights the need to develop efficient and sustainable cultivation of ethnoveterinary plants to alleviate excessive harvesting pressures on wild medicinal plants.