Quantitative indigenous ethnoveterinary knowledge of medicinal plants used for ruminant tick management in the Guiriko region, Burkina Faso

Authors

  • Hubert Eloi Aboubacar Sidiki Bamba National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), Plant Production Department, Cotton Program, Farako-Bâ Research Station, 01 BP 910 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso; and Abdou Moumouni University, Regional Center of Excellence on Pastoral Productions (CERPP), BP 10960 Niamey, Niger https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1363-3923
  • Etienne Sodré National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), Animal Production Department, Farako-Bâ Research Station, 01 BP 910 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2054-0461
  • André Zongo Nazi Boni University, email: info@univ-bobo.bf, 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8253-4953
  • Denté Fidèle Tianhoun National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Animal Production Department, Saria Research Station, 01 BP 10 Koudougou, Burkina Faso https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2824-5572
  • Alizèta Sawadogo National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Plant Production Department/Regional Center of Excellence in Fruits and Vegetables (CRE), Farako-Bâ Research Station, 01 BP 910 Bobo- Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
  • Adama Kaboré National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Animal Production Department, Saria Research Station, 01 BP 10 Koudougou, Burkina Faso
  • Hamani Marichatou Abdou Moumouni University (UAM)/Regional Center of Excellence on Pastoral Productions (CERPP), BP 10960 Niamey, Niger https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1358-4240

Abstract

Background: Ticks remain a major constraint to ruminant production in Burkina Faso, particularly in pastoral systems with limited veterinary services. This study documented ethnoveterinary knowledge and inventoried plant-based remedies used for tick control in the Guiriko pastoral region.

Methods: A cross-sectional ethnoveterinary and botanical survey was conducted from February 2022 to April 2023 in two pastoral areas (Saho and Sidéradougou). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 140 livestock farmers selected by stratified random sampling. Use reports (UR), relative frequency of citation (RFC) and informant consensus factor (ICF) were calculated, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results: All farmers reported tick infestations and the use of synthetic acaricides, while 46.4% also used medicinal plants. A total of 493 use reports covering 31 traditional remedies from 14 plant species were recorded. The most cited species were Chamaecrista nigricans (Vahl) Greene (UR = 95; RFC = 67.9%), Carica papaya L. (66; 47.1%), Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton (52; 37.1%), Ocimum americanum L. (48; 34.3%) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (43; 30.7%). Leaves were the most used part (71%). Decoction (48.4%) and maceration (25.8%) were the main preparation methods; bathing and topical application were the main administration routes. Informant consensus was high (ICF = 0.97). No inter-zone differences remained significant after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.0036).

 Conclusions: Traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge is an important resource for sustainable tick control in Burkina Faso. Pharmacological validation and toxicity assessment are needed before integration into animal health programs.

Keywords: Ticks, Ruminants, Ethnoveterinary medicine, Medicinal plants, Chamaecrista nigricans, Burkina Faso

Author Biographies

Etienne Sodré , National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), Animal Production Department, Farako-Bâ Research Station, 01 BP 910 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso

Dr Étienne Sodré is a researcher at the Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) in Burkina Faso, specializing in zootechnics and livestock production systems.

André Zongo , Nazi Boni University, email: info@univ-bobo.bf, 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso

Dr André Zongo is an associate professor and researcher at the Université Nazi Boni, Burkina Faso, within the Laboratory of Bioresources, Agro-systems and Environmental Health (LaBASE).

Denté Fidèle Tianhoun , National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Animal Production Department, Saria Research Station, 01 BP 10 Koudougou, Burkina Faso

Dr Denté Fidèle Tianhoun is a researcher in tropical animal health and a zootechnical engineer at Université Nazi Boni, Burkina Faso.

Alizèta Sawadogo , National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Plant Production Department/Regional Center of Excellence in Fruits and Vegetables (CRE), Farako-Bâ Research Station, 01 BP 910 Bobo- Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso

Dr. Alizèta Sawadogo is an entomologist and Senior Research Scientist at the Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Burkina Faso. She serves as Head of the Vegetable Crops Research Department at the Farako-Bâ Research Station in Bobo-Dioulasso. Her research focuses on agricultural entomology, integrated pest management, and the sustainable protection of vegetable crops.

Adama Kaboré , National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST)/Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)/Animal Production Department, Saria Research Station, 01 BP 10 Koudougou, Burkina Faso

Dr. Adama Kaboré is a Director of Research (CAMES) and Deputy Director General for Research Valorization (DGA-V) at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Burkina Faso. He is affiliated with the Animal Biology and Health Research Unit (UBioSA) and leads the Animal Health and Veterinary Pharmacopoeia Research Team (SAPhaVet). His research focuses on animal health, veterinary pharmacology, ethnoveterinary medicine, livestock diseases, and the valorization of natural resources for sustainable animal production.

Hamani Marichatou , Abdou Moumouni University (UAM)/Regional Center of Excellence on Pastoral Productions (CERPP), BP 10960 Niamey, Niger

Prof. Marichatou Hamani is a Professor and researcher at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, Niger, where he also serves as Coordinator of the Regional Center of Excellence on Pastoral Production (CERPP). His research focuses on animal production, livestock reproduction, dairy science, pastoral systems, and sustainable livestock development in the Sahel. He has authored numerous scientific publications and has made significant contributions to the fields of colostrum management, artificial insemination, and ruminant production systems.

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Published

20.10.2026

How to Cite

Bamba, H. E. A. S., Sodré , E., Zongo , A., Tianhoun , D. F., Sawadogo , A., Kaboré , A., & Marichatou , H. (2026). Quantitative indigenous ethnoveterinary knowledge of medicinal plants used for ruminant tick management in the Guiriko region, Burkina Faso . Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 36, 1–25. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/8852

Issue

Vol. 36 (2026)

Section

Research

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