A survey of the relationship of genetic markers, tick-infestation level and parasitic diseases in Zebu cattle in Zambia

This paper reports on a study of1,033 Angoni cattle in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The animals came from two areas, one of which had frequent outbreaks of trypanosomiasis whilst the other was relatively free of clinical trypanosomiasis. Whole body tick collections were made from each animal and blood samples taken together with data on colour, sex, age and skinfold thickness. The blood samples were tested for parasites, red cell antigens and polymorphism at the transferrin (Tf), haemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), amylase I (Am I) and amylase II (Am II) loci.