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Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

Epidemiological study on the impact of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in different cattle breeds in the northern part of Bangladesh (Professional training and teaching in order to strengthen the research and teaching capacities)

Livestock plays a crucial role in the agricultural economy of Bangladesh. About 36 percent of the total animal protein comes from the livestock products in our everyday life which also helps to earn foreign exchange by exporting hides & skins every year. Mechanical cultivation still being cultivating by bovine animal. Countries 25 percent peoples are directly engaged in livestock sector, and 50 percent peoples are partly associated in livestock production. Last year, the contribution of livestock sub-sector to the GDP was 2.95 percent, which was estimated about 17.32 percent GDP to agriculture. The growth of livestock in GDP was 7.23 percent. Unfortunately there are no accurate and recent estimates available of the damages caused by disease vectors. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens are known to exist in Bangladesh.

On the basis of a 10 year collaboration between the Institute of biological Sciences of the University of Rajshahi and the University of Neuchâtel and mainly financed through private funds and the Federal Commission for Scholarships for foreign students, the present project has as a general objective to institutionalize the scientific activity through a University exchange program of the scientific expertise between the Institute of Biological Sciences of the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh and the Biology Institute of the University of Neuchâtel in order to obtain basic information on the prevalence of tick species and pathogens present in cattle in Bangladesh. This information will be used to contribute to the formulation and implementation of a national program for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in close collaboration with different national institutions. An exchange of collaborators of both Institutions is therefore crucial for a success of the project.

Regional distribution of ticks in northern part of Bangladesh have been studied during first phase study (2002-2003)---a total of 3’958 animals were inspected and 1’353 (34%) were infested by ticks. Compared with male animals, two times more females were infested. A total of 18’362 ticks were collected. 69% of the ticks were collected from female animals. The highest infestation rate (100%) was always recorded in female animals. A total of three different genera of ticks were identified: Boophilus, Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma. B. microplus, H. bispinosa are the most abundant ticks in all seasons and places. Hyalomma spp was reported from 20 places in Barind tract. Other species identified are B. annulatus, B. decoloratus, H.a. anatolicum and H. a. excavatum. In blood smears B. bigemmina, B.bovis, A. marginale, A.centrale, T. annulata also identified. 11 high risk areas are---Mohadebpur, Gomostapur, Durgapur, Natore Sadar, Bera, Nimgachi, Shahjadpur, Kahaloo, Jaipurhat Sadar, Kalai and Polashbari.

Prevalence, seasonality, new pathogen species have identified during second phase study period (July 2008-June 2009). Within 11 high risk areas five places (Gomostapur, Shahjadpour, Nimgachi, Kahaloo, Jaiourhat) have selected for second phase sampling. For each of five places we have collected blood samples randomly 15 animals for our study. A total of 900 blood samples have collected during one year study period. Average 11 cattle observed for ticks sampling. A total of 4032 ticks have collected from 662 cattle during one year study. PCR and RLB-PCR are new molecular techniques now widely used for the detection of tick-borne diseases from blood and ticks in cattle. Two new pathogen species of BT and AE group have identified through this method. Further more data of prevalence, seasonality and regional distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases will have to useful for control purpose. The training and collaboration in a mutual partnership should help to use these methods for the detection of haemoparasites in the bovine blood and in the haemolymph of ticks of cattle in Bangladesh.

Objectives to be completed during the second phase of the project:

a.) Tick and pathogen identification up to species level.

b.) Data analysis of all results collected during field sampling. Pathogen identification from blood smear yet to be
completed.

c.) Completion of RLB-PCR from blood and tick samples and gene sequence analysis of AE and BT group yet to be completed in order to indentify potentially new pathgen species in Bangladesh.

(e) Proposed visit of Rajshahi University Collaborators for constructive and mutually beneficial collaboration.

(f) Organization of a workshop in Rajshahi university in spring 2010 during the second visit of Swiss coordinator to Rajshahi. Probable participants are from the I.B.Sc., Rajshahi Unviersity; Parasitology unit, University of Neuchatel; Department of Livestock Services(DLS); Swiss Development Cooperatin (SDC); Food and Agriculture (FAO); UNDP.

Figure1. Showing Prof Betschart with Principal Investigator, Dr. Nadira Akhtar in Nimgachi, Sirajganj district

Figure 2. Showing Prof Betschart in the field, Community Livestock and Dairy Development project, Nimgachi Sirajganj, funded by FAO, UNDP and Grameen Bank Foundation Bangladesh.
Figure 2. Showing Prof Betschart in the field, Community Livestock and Dairy Development project, Nimgachi Sirajganj, funded by FAO, UNDP and Grameen Bank Foundation Bangladesh.

Figure 3. With veterinary surgeon, Shahjadpur, Sirajganj in order to know farming system of Milk Vita farm (Bangladesh Milk Producers Co-operative Unions Limited)

Figure 4. Severe tick infestation (due to Boophilus and Haemaphysalis ticks) in Freisian x Shahiwal cross breed cattle Shahjadpur, Sirajganj district

Contacts:

Prof. B. Betschart
Institute of Biology
University of Neuchâtel
Rue Emile-Argand 11
2009 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Bruno.Betschart@unine.ch

Prof. M. Wahedul Islam
Institute of Biological Sciences
University of Rajshahi
Rajshahi – 6205
Bangladesh
mwislam2001@yahoo.com

Dr. Nadira Akhtar
Institute of Biological Sciences
University of Rajshahi
Rajshahi – 6205
Bangladesh
ndrakhtar639@yahoo.com

Partner institutions:
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Institute of Biology, Parasitology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Associate partner: Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh

Funded by:
The University Exchange Program of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperattion (administrated by the KFPE)
MOSICT (Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology), Bangladesh under Special Allocation Program


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		Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires" Epidemiological study on the impact of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in different cattle breeds in the northern part of Bangladesh (Professional training and teaching in order to strengthen the research and teaching capacities) Livestock plays a crucial role in the agricultural economy of Bangladesh. About 36 percent of the total animal protein comes from the livestock products in our everyday life which also helps to earn foreign exchange by exporting hides & skins every year. Mechanical cultivation still being cultivating by bovine animal. Countries 25 percent peoples are directly engaged in livestock sector, and 50 percent peoples are partly associated in livestock production. Last year, the contribution of livestock sub-sector to the GDP was 2.95 percent, which was estimated about 17.32 percent GDP to agriculture. The growth of livestock in GDP was 7.23 percent. Unfortunately there are no accurate and recent estimates available of the damages caused by disease vectors. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens are known to exist in Bangladesh. On the basis of a 10 year collaboration between the Institute of biological Sciences of the University of Rajshahi and the University of Neuchâtel and mainly financed through private funds and the Federal Commission for Scholarships for foreign students, the present project has as a general objective to institutionalize the scientific activity through a University exchange program of the scientific expertise between the Institute of Biological Sciences of the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh and the Biology Institute of the University of Neuchâtel in order to obtain basic information on the prevalence of tick species and pathogens present in cattle in Bangladesh. This information will be used to contribute to the formulation and implementation of a national program for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in close collaboration with different national institutions. An exchange of collaborators of both Institutions is therefore crucial for a success of the project. Regional distribution of ticks in northern part of Bangladesh have been studied during first phase study (2002-2003)---a total of 3’958 animals were inspected and 1’353 (34%) were infested by ticks. Compared with male animals, two times more females were infested. A total of 18’362 ticks were collected. 69% of the ticks were collected from female animals. The highest infestation rate (100%) was always recorded in female animals. A total of three different genera of ticks were identified: Boophilus, Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma. B. microplus, H. bispinosa are the most abundant ticks in all seasons and places. Hyalomma spp was reported from 20 places in Barind tract. Other species identified are B. annulatus, B. decoloratus, H.a. anatolicum and H. a. excavatum. In blood smears B. bigemmina, B.bovis, A. marginale, A.centrale, T. annulata also identified. 11 high risk areas are---Mohadebpur, Gomostapur, Durgapur, Natore Sadar, Bera, Nimgachi, Shahjadpur, Kahaloo, Jaipurhat Sadar, Kalai and Polashbari. Prevalence, seasonality, new pathogen species have identified during second phase study period (July 2008-June 2009). Within 11 high risk areas five places (Gomostapur, Shahjadpour, Nimgachi, Kahaloo, Jaiourhat) have selected for second phase sampling. For each of five places we have collected blood samples randomly 15 animals for our study. A total of 900 blood samples have collected during one year study period. Average 11 cattle observed for ticks sampling. A total of 4032 ticks have collected from 662 cattle during one year study. PCR and RLB-PCR are new molecular techniques now widely used for the detection of tick-borne diseases from blood and ticks in cattle. Two new pathogen species of BT and AE group have identified through this method. Further more data of prevalence, seasonality and regional distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases will have to useful for control purpose. The training and collaboration in a mutual partnership should help to use these methods for the detection of haemoparasites in the bovine blood and in the haemolymph of ticks of cattle in Bangladesh. Objectives to be completed during the second phase of the project: a.) Tick and pathogen identification up to species level. b.) Data analysis of all results collected during field sampling. Pathogen identification from blood smear yet to be completed. c.) Completion of RLB-PCR from blood and tick samples and gene sequence analysis of AE and BT group yet to be completed in order to indentify potentially new pathgen species in Bangladesh. (e) Proposed visit of Rajshahi University Collaborators for constructive and mutually beneficial collaboration. (f) Organization of a workshop in Rajshahi university in spring 2010 during the second visit of Swiss coordinator to Rajshahi. Probable participants are from the I.B.Sc., Rajshahi Unviersity; Parasitology unit, University of Neuchatel; Department of Livestock Services(DLS); Swiss Development Cooperatin (SDC); Food and Agriculture (FAO); UNDP. Figure1. Showing Prof Betschart with Principal Investigator, Dr. Nadira Akhtar in Nimgachi, Sirajganj district Figure 2. Showing Prof Betschart in the field, Community Livestock and Dairy Development project, Nimgachi Sirajganj, funded by FAO, UNDP and Grameen Bank Foundation Bangladesh. Figure 3. With veterinary surgeon, Shahjadpur, Sirajganj in order to know farming system of Milk Vita farm (Bangladesh Milk Producers Co-operative Unions Limited) Figure 4. Severe tick infestation (due to Boophilus and Haemaphysalis ticks) in Freisian x Shahiwal cross breed cattle Shahjadpur, Sirajganj district Contacts: Prof. B. Betschart Institute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Rue Emile-Argand 11 2009 Neuchâtel Switzerland Bruno.Betschart@unine.ch Prof. M. Wahedul Islam Institute of Biological Sciences University of Rajshahi Rajshahi – 6205 Bangladesh mwislam2001@yahoo.com Dr. Nadira Akhtar Institute of Biological Sciences University of Rajshahi Rajshahi – 6205 Bangladesh ndrakhtar639@yahoo.com Partner institutions: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Institute of Biology, Parasitology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland Associate partner: Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh Funded by: The University Exchange Program of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperattion (administrated by the KFPE) MOSICT (Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology), Bangladesh under Special Allocation Program