Table 2 Selected characteristics of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of livestock farmers towards ticks and tick-borne diseases of zoonotic importance in Caquba and Lucingweni areas of OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

Ticks identified (ability to identify)

37

22

15

 Amblyomma hebraeum (Qwelagqibe/ red) tick

22 (68.75)

0

< 0.001*

 Rhipicephalus (Dark coloured/ umkhasi) tick

0

10 (31.25)

Bitten by ticks

37

22

15

 Yes

21 (95.5)

2 (13.3)

< 0.001*

 No

1 (4.5)

13 (86.7)

How the ticks were removed at the bite site

20

20

 Plucked out

11 (47.8)

N/A

–

 Crushed the tick(s)

5 (21.7)

N/A

 Used light from a matchstick

4 (17.4)

N/A

Treatment sought after a tick bite(s)

38

23

15

 Health care facility

1 (4.35)

0

0.007*

 Traditional healer

1 (4.35)

0

 Self-treatment

7 (30.4)

1 (6.7)

 No treatment

5 (21.7)

0

 No response

9 (39.1)

14 (93.3)

Perceived origins of ticks that bite humans

35

20

15

 Domestic animals (Cattle, sheep, goats, cats, dogs and chicken/birds)

10 (43.5)

12 (66.7)

0.0436*

 Humans

0

1 (6.7)

 Grass

1 (4.35)

0

 Do not know

9 (39.1)

2 (13.3)

Concerns about tick bites/tick-borne infection

36

21

15

 Very concerned

19 (82.6)

13 (86.7)

0.559

 Not very concerned

0

1 (6.7

 Not concerned at all

2 (8.7)

1 (6.7)

Individual protection from ticks

34

21

13

 Bathed with antiseptic

2 (8.7)

0

 Wear protective clothing

0

6 (40)

 Do nothing to protect oneself

14 (60.9)

0

< 0.001*

 Chemical control of ticks in livestock (Dip livestock and Use of traditional medicine)

3 (52.2)

1 (26.7)

 Environmental control (Avoid tick-infested animals/environment and Cut/mow grass)

2 (8.7)

6 (20)