Joseph Wang’ang’a Oundo

This research aimed to investigate the occurence of tick-borne infections in cattle in coastal Kenya and evaluate the potential of a biological control tool to mitigate these. Biological control tools are important for developing sustainable strategies to control ticks, which could enhance cattle health and productivity while minimizing environmental impact. We investigated entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as a potential biological alternative to synthetic chemicals for tick control. The study found that EPF can indeed kill ticks. The time it takes before a tick is killed however poses a challenge for immediate protection of the treated cattle. The tick might still transmit a pathogen before it is killed by the product. A meaningful impact is expected if a large proportion of animals can be treated, as this could result in a reduction of the overall tick population, and disease transmission as a consequence. Additionally, increasing the persistence time of EPF on cattle skin could substantially enhance its effectiveness. Further research will be needed to further the development of EPF, effective implementation strategies, and community involvement in tick control.