RP, Australia research solves problem of cattle tick fever

Solving the mystery of what tick-borne diseases of cattle are present in the Philippines and their impact on the country’s 2.4 million cattle has been the subject of investigations by researchers from the Philippines and Australia.

In the Philippines, as elsewhere, ticks can be a nuisance. But the real problem is the diseases they can transmit with a single bite. In susceptible cattle, tick-borne diseases can cause dramatic losses in productivity and frequently, death.

The impact of tick-borne diseases in the Philippines has not been as severe as elsewhere due to the inherent resistance of local breeds. That situation could change rapidly as the Philippine government embarks on a program to build more profitable beef and dairy industries through importation of better breeding stock.

But knowing where the diseases are present and how prevalent they are, especially when acute symptoms are rare in local cattle, is difficult. Developing the capacity for accurate testing and diagnosis is an urgent priority to support this expansion.

Helping speed up the process has been the focus of a research by the Queensland Department of primary Industries and Fisheries and the Philippines’ Bureau of Animal Industry. The project is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), an Australian government statutory authority that operates as part of Australia’s Development Cooperation Program. ACIAR assists and encourages Australia’s agricultural scientists to use their skills for the benefit of developing countries, as well as Australia.

Prior to this research, the type of tick-borne disease, their distribution and prevalence were not known. The two diseases of major concern to Philippine authorities are babesiosis and anaplasmosis, collectively known as tick fever.

By introducing appropriate testing, survey methodologies and training of local researchers, these unknowns have all been addressed.

Centers of expertise in the diagnosis and control of tick fever have been developed in the key laboratories in Manila and Davao that service the major cattle producing and cattle importing areas in the north and south of the Philippines. These laboratories are now recognized reference centers for the rest of the country and models for establishing similar expertise in regional animal disease diagnostic laboratories throughout the Philippines.

The completion of serological surveys has established that both diseases occur throughout the country. Serological tests for babesiosis and anaplasmosis are now in routine use in the Philippines, and DNA-based tests capable of differentiating between Australian and Philippine disease strains have been developed.

These research outcomes are vital in the ongoing development of a more substantial livestock industry in the Philippines, an important government initiative that stand to benefit smallholder farmers particularly.

The greater the profitability of livestock industries, both through diversification such as into dairy cattle, and through healthier more productive cattle, the greater the opportunities for smallholders to reap increased returns. Livestock represents a valuable resource for poor farmmers throughout Asia, including the Philippines, as a source of draft power, through the sale of young animals and for food security.

The projects has also contributed to the smooth operation of the live cattle trade between Australia and the Philippines, an outcome that is already paying dividends.