Evaluating the Efficacy of Mazao Tickoff (Metarhizium Anisopliae ICIPE 7) in Controlling Natural Tick Infestations on Cattle in Coastal Kenya: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2022 Aug 16

PMID 35972927

Authors

Joseph Wanganga Oundo

Daniel Masiga

Michael Nyanganga Okal

Gebbiena M Bron

Komivi S Akutse

Sevgan Subramanian

Quirine Ten Bosch

Constantianus J M Koenraadt

Shewit Kalayou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Ticks and tick-borne diseases cause substantial economic losses to the livestock industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Mazao Tickoff is a novel bioacaricide developed for tick control and is based on the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (s.l.) isolate ICIPE 7. To date, no randomized controlled study has been undertaken to demonstrate the efficacy of this bioacaricide in reducing natural tick infestation on cattle. To this end, this field trial is designed to evaluate the anti-tick efficacy of Mazao Tickoff on cattle in coastal Kenya compared to a standard chemical tick control protocol. In this prospective, multi-center randomized controlled trial, eligible herds will be randomized by the herd size to the intervention arm in a 1:1:1 ratio to either Triatix® (active ingredient: amitraz); Mazao Tickoff (active ingredient: M. anisopliae ICIPE 7); or placebo (excipients of the Mazao Tickoff), with a total enrollment target of 1,077 cattle. Treatments will be dispensed on Day 0 (defined individually as the day each animal receives the first treatment) and thereafter every two weeks until Day 182. Ticks will be counted on every animal in each herd (herds to be included have at least one animal bearing at least one tick on Day 0), and thereafter on bi-weekly intervals until Day 182. The primary efficacy assessments of Mazao Tickoff will be based on the mean percentage reduction in tick counts at each post-treatment follow-up visit compared to the placebo group and the Triatix® arm. Further, the effect of Mazao Tickoff on the prevalence of common cattle pathogens, Anaplasma marginale and Theileria parva, will be determined by assessing incidence and seroprevalence at four different time points. This protocol describes the first rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of Mazao Tickoff and its potential as a viable alternative non-chemical acaricide tool for tick control in Kenya and elsewhere.

Citing Articles

Tick Control Strategies: Critical Insights into Chemical, Biological, Physical, and Integrated Approaches for Effective Hard Tick Management.

Makwarela T, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T Vet Sci. 2025; 12(2).

PMID: 40005873 PMC: 11860501. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12020114.

References

Samish M, Rot A, Ment D, Barel S, Glazer I, Gindin G . Efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum in controlling the tick Rhipicephalus annulatus under field conditions. Vet Parasitol. 2014; 206(3-4):258-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.10.019. View

Mutuku F, King C, Mungai P, Mbogo C, Mwangangi J, Muchiri E . Impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria transmission indices on the south coast of Kenya. Malar J. 2011; 10:356. PMC: 3322380. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-10-356. View

Oundo J, Villinger J, Jeneby M, Ongamo G, Otiende M, Makhulu E . Pathogens, endosymbionts, and blood-meal sources of host-seeking ticks in the fast-changing Maasai Mara wildlife ecosystem. PLoS One. 2020; 15(8):e0228366. PMC: 7458302. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228366. View

Dantas-Torres F, Chomel B, Otranto D . Ticks and tick-borne diseases: a One Health perspective. Trends Parasitol. 2012; 28(10):437-46. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2012.07.003. View

Tukahirwa E . The feeding behaviour of larvae, nymphs and adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Parasitology. 1976; 72(1):65-74. DOI: 10.1017/s0031182000043195. View

Adjou Moumouni P, Aboge G, Terkawi M, Masatani T, Cao S, Kamyingkird K . Molecular detection and characterization of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Theileria species and Anaplasma marginale isolated from cattle in Kenya. Parasit Vectors. 2015; 8:496. PMC: 4589125. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1106-9. View

Katende J, Morzaria S, Toye P, Skilton R, Nene V, Nkonge C . An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Theileria parva antibodies in cattle using a recombinant polymorphic immunodominant molecule. Parasitol Res. 1998; 84(5):408-16. DOI: 10.1007/s004360050419. View

Mbogo C, Mwangangi J, Nzovu J, Gu W, Yan G, Gunter J . Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of Anopheles mosquitoes and Plasmodium falciparum transmission along the Kenyan coast. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003; 68(6):734-42. View

Harris P, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde J . Research electronic data capture (REDCap)--a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. J Biomed Inform. 2008; 42(2):377-81. PMC: 2700030. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2008.08.010. View

10.

Maloo S, Rowlands G, Thorpe W, Gettinby G, Perry B . A longitudinal study of disease incidence and case-fatality risks on small-holder dairy farms in coastal Kenya. Prev Vet Med. 2001; 52(1):17-29. DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5877(01)00235-5. View

11.

Georges K, Loria G, Riili S, Greco A, Caracappa S, Jongejan F . Detection of haemoparasites in cattle by reverse line blot hybridisation with a note on the distribution of ticks in Sicily. Vet Parasitol. 2001; 99(4):273-86. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(01)00488-5. View

12.

Abbas R, Zaman M, Colwell D, Gilleard J, Iqbal Z . Acaricide resistance in cattle ticks and approaches to its management: the state of play. Vet Parasitol. 2014; 203(1-2):6-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.03.006. View

13.

Yonow T . The life-cycle of Amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae): a literature synthesis with a view to modelling. Int J Parasitol. 1995; 25(9):1023-60. DOI: 10.1016/0020-7519(95)00020-3. View

14.

Camargo M, Nogueira M, Marciano A, Perinotto W, Coutinho-Rodrigues C, Scott F . Metarhizium anisopliae for controlling Rhipicephalus microplus ticks under field conditions. Vet Parasitol. 2016; 223:38-42. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.04.014. View

15.

Muyobela J, Nkunika P, Mwase E . Resistance status of ticks (Acari; Ixodidae) to amitraz and cypermethrin acaricides in Isoka District, Zambia. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2015; 47(8):1599-605. DOI: 10.1007/s11250-015-0906-4. View

16.

Rangel D, Braga G, Flint S, Anderson A, Roberts D . Variations in UV-B tolerance and germination speed of Metarhizium anisopliae conidia produced on insects and artificial substrates. J Invertebr Pathol. 2004; 87(2-3):77-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2004.06.007. View

17.

Nchu F, Maniania N, Hassanali A, Eloff J . Performance of a Metarhizium anisopliae-treated semiochemical-baited trap in reducing Amblyomma variegatum populations in the field. Vet Parasitol. 2010; 169(3-4):367-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.01.020. View

18.

De Meneghi D, Stachurski F, Adakal H . Experiences in Tick Control by Acaricide in the Traditional Cattle Sector in Zambia and Burkina Faso: Possible Environmental and Public Health Implications. Front Public Health. 2016; 4:239. PMC: 5101216. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00239. View

19.

de la Fuente J, Estrada-Pena A, Venzal J, Kocan K, Sonenshine D . Overview: Ticks as vectors of pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Front Biosci. 2008; 13:6938-46. DOI: 10.2741/3200. View

20.

Muraguri G, McLeod A, Mcdermott J, Taylor N . The incidence of calf morbidity and mortality due to vector-borne infections in smallholder dairy farms in Kwale District, Kenya. Vet Parasitol. 2005; 130(3-4):305-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.11.026. View