A study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on ticks and tick-borne diseases of cattle among breeders of two bovine Portuguese autochthonous breeds

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) 2024-02, Vol.48, p.100989-100989, Article 100989
• Main Authors: Valente, Diana, Carolino, Nuno, Gomes, Jacinto, Coelho, Ana Cláudia, Espadinha, Pedro, Pais, José, Carolino, Inês
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alentejana; Animals; Beef cattle; Cattle; Control tick infestation; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; KAP; Mertolenga; Portugal - epidemiology; Tick Infestations - epidemiology; Tick Infestations - prevention & control; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Tick-Borne Diseases - epidemiology; Tick-Borne Diseases - prevention & control; Tick-Borne Diseases - veterinary; Ticks
• ISSN: 2405-9390; 2405-9390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100989

Beef cattle production in Portugal is an important sector of national agricultural production, with half of the herd being in the Alentejo region. Despite this, animal health is essential for its productivity, which may be compromised by ticks and tick-borne diseases. So far, no study has been conducted in Portugal to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on ticks and tick-borne diseases in cattle, which the authors are aware of. This type of questionnaire is a very useful tool in the development and application of effective and sustainable prevention and control measures. Therefore, a KAP questionnaire was applied to 44 cattle breeders of autochthonous Portuguese breeds, namely 14 breeders of the Alentejana breed and 30 of the Mertolenga breed, between January 1 and May 9, 2023. Based on the analysis criteria of these surveys, 64% of the Alentejana breeders and 63% of the Mertolenga breeders have an average level of knowledge about ticks and tick-borne diseases, and 21% of the Alentejana breeders and 33% of the Mertolenga breeders have a high level of knowledge. Although only 21.4% of the Alentejana and 36.7% of the Mertolenga breeders consider tick infestation as a major animal health problem, 71.4% of the Alentejana and 63.3% of breeders of the Mertolenga state that one of the main reasons for veterinary consultations on their farm is deworming of animals, and 92.9% of breeders of the Alentejana and 96.7% of breeders of the Mertolenga refer the use of dewormers as a strategy to control tick infestation. The results of this study contribute to highlighting the importance of correcting some identified knowledge gaps and improving knowledge, especially on the life cycle of this parasite, its local distribution and seasonality, resistance to acaricides, and alternative control strategies. [Display omitted] •Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animals and humans all over the world.•KAP allows an estimation of cattle breeder's knowledge, attitudes, and practices.•Most breeders had adequate knowledge about ticks and tick-borne diseases.•The data could be used to develop strategies for the prevention and control of ticks.•These strategies improve animal health and welfare, food safety and public health.