Diversity, Host Attachment Preferences and Role of Tick Rhipicephalus microplus in the Transmission of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in Cattle From Southern Benin.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus microplus, are major blood-sucking ectoparasites of livestock, causing considerable economic losses both through their direct pathogenic effects and their role as vectors of infectious agents. However, tick diversity, host association and pathogen carriage remain insufficiently documented in Southern Benin. This study investigated tick species composition, anatomical attachment preferences, host breed associations and the molecular detection of selected bacterial pathogens in six municipalities of Southern Benin. METHODS: Ticks were collected from cattle and morphologically identified. Community structure was explored using multivariate analysis. A subset of engorged R. microplus specimens was screened for Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. using conventional PCR. RESULTS: The tick fauna was dominated by R. microplus, with additional detection of Amblyomma variegatum and other Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis and Rhipicephalus species. Ticks were mainly attached to ears, axillae and trunk. Spatial variation was observed but should be considered exploratory given the limited number of sampling sites. Molecular analysis detected Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. DNA in tested ticks. Species proportions reflect relative abundance rather than true prevalence, and pathogen detection was based on genus-level PCR without sequencing confirmation. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to the understanding of tick ecology and pathogen circulation in Southern Benin and highlight the need for probabilistic sampling and sequencing-based confirmation in future epidemiological studies.