Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access   Cite this article: Dinkisa G (2018) Review on Control of Cowdriosis in Ruminants. J Vet Med Res 5(7): 1150. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Research *Corresponding author G ute ma Dinkisa , Me ke lle Unive rsity, C o lle g e o f Ve te rina ry Me d ic ine , Me ke lle , Ethio p ia , Ema il: Submitte d: 14 Se p te mb e r 2018 Accepted: 09 O c to b e r 2018 Publishe d: 10 O c to b e r 2018 ISSN: 2378-931X Copyright © 2018 Dinkisa OPEN ACCESS Ke ywo rds • Amblyomma • C o wd rio sis • End e mic sta b ility • He a rtwa te r • Tic k-b o rne d ise a se • Va c c ine Abstract Cowdriosis also known as ‘heartwater’ is an acute, often fatal, non-contagious and tick-borne disease of domestic and wild ruminants that is transmitted by Amblyomma ticks. It is an important cause of death in cattle, sheep, and goats in regions where tick vectors are present. In Africa, heartwater is a major obstacle to the introduction of highly productive animals into endemic areas. The distribution of the disease follows a presence of vector Amblyomma, among them Amblyomma variegatum is the most important species which is widely distributed in the sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. Control of disease involves controlling tick vector, establishing endemic stability, performing immunization by infection and treatment, and preventing the disease by regular administration of prophylactic antibiotics. Most of these methods are subject to failure for various epidemiological reasons, and serious disease outbreaks can occur. Prophylaxis is effective, but very expensive, and the logistics are daunting when large herds of animals are involved. The development of a safe, cheap and effective vaccine directed against Ehrlichia ruminantium is the only way for controlling of heartwater. Generally, control of cowdriosis should consider using cost- effective, environmentally safe, sustainable and integrated control methods including establishment of endemic stability. ABBREVIATIONS A. gemma: Amblyomma gemma; A. hebraeum: Amblyomma hebraeum; A. lepideum: Amblyomma lepideum; A. variegatum:Amblyomma variegatum; C. ruminantium: Cowdria ruminantium; E. ruminantium: Ehrlichia ruminantium; TTBD: Tick and Tick-borne disease; TBD: Tick-borne Disease INTRODUCTION Tick-borne diseases affect most of the world’s cattle population and are widely distributed throughout the world, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. The complex of vector- borne disease directly or indirectly constrains the livestock industry, which is of fundamental importance to rural people in sustaining not only their food supply, but also their daily income and other agricultural activities [1]. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are some of the most significant and serious constraints to the improvement of livestock production in Ethiopia. TBDs and their vectors are wide spread in the country. They affect production in various ways, such as growth rate, milk production, fertility, the value of hides and mortality. In Ethiopia, several tick species are widely distributed and the domestic ruminant species dwell in diverse agro-climatic zones and are raised under various production systems. This, in turn, results in abundance of various vector species and vector-borne diseases especially ticks and tick-borne infections like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, cowdriosis (heartwater), and theileriosis [2]. Heartwater or cowdriosis is an infectious, non-contagious, TBD caused by a small, gram negative, pleomorphic coccus, and an obligatory intracellular rickettsial pathogen previously known as Cowdria ruminantium but recently reclassified as Ehrlichia ruminantium [3]. It is the most important tick-borne disease of exotic and cross-bred cattle and is transmitted by the ticks of the genus Amblyomma and affects domestic ruminants and several wild ruminants such as buffalo, giraffe, and antelope as well as some wild rodents [4]. The course of the disease varies from peracute, acute, sub-acute to mild, depending on age, immune status, breed and virulence of the strain [5]. The incubation period of the disease is influenced by the species of animal affected, immune status, breed, age, route of infection, virulence of the organism and amount of infective materials administered [5,6]. The disease is characterized by fever, nervous signs, hydropericardium, hydrothorax, lung edema and high mortality [7]. Cowdriosis is a serious constraint to livestock improvement programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa and, through its occurrence on some islands in the Caribbean, poses a potential threat to ruminant species in mainland North, Central and South America. It is the second most important TBD after East Coast Fever in Africa [8]. In countries or regions where there is endemic stability, losses from heartwater are minimal until new animals are introduced. Wild ruminants may play a role as reservoirs, Review Article Review on Control of Cowdriosis in Ruminants Gutema Dinkisa* Department of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia