Microscopically identified tick-borne hemoparasites in cattle and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Hyalomma ticks in northern Côte d’Ivoire

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are major One Health threats, affecting animal and human health and imposing substantial economic burdens. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in cattle and to assess Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in ticks in three departments of northern Côte d’Ivoire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect whole blood from cattle and ticks removed from the same animals. Giemsa-stained blood smears were microscopically examined for the detection and morphological identification of hemoparasites, while tick pools were tested for CCHFV RNA by RT-qPCR. In total, 96 cattle were sampled, yielding 561 ticks (7 nymphs and 554 adults). Five tick species were identified: Amblyomma variegatum , Hyalomma rufipes , Hyalomma truncatum , Rhipicephalus annulatus , and Rhipicephalus microplus . Amblyomma variegatum was the predominant species. Five hemoparasites were microscopically identified, including Babesia bovis , Babesia bigemina , Anaplasma marginale , Anaplasma centrale , and Theileria annulata , with an overall prevalence of 34.38% (95% CI: 25.48–44.52%). Babesia bovis was the most prevalent species (18.75%, 95% CI: 12.07–27.94%), whereas Babesia bigemina was the least frequently detected (2.08%, 95% CI: 0.51–8.08%). CCHFV was detected in 2 of the 9 Hyalomma tick pools analyzed. These findings provide updated epidemiological data on tick infestation, tick-borne hemoparasite infections, and CCHFV RNA detection in Hyalomma tick pools from sampled cattle herds in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Further molecular and longitudinal studies are needed to better characterize the epidemiology of these pathogens and their potential impact on animal and public health.