^ _ _ _ _ _ GROOMING AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PREVALENCE OF TICK BORNE DISEASES: A CASE STUDY OF WILD YELLOW BABOONS (Papio cynocephalus cynocephalus) DR. MERCY YVONNE AKINYI BVM, University of Nairobi A research thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the award of Master of Science Degree in Medical Physiology in the University of Nairobi University ol NAIROBI Library 0416723 5 2010 DECLARATION This is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. Signature....................................... ~ .................... Date.... 3. / 1. 9. 8. 1. 9 :99. 9? ...................... Dr. Mercy .Y. Akinyi, BVM This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as supervisors. Signature Date..I. S .& P ... 3U£l/ Q . Prof. Nilesh B. Patel, PhD Department of Medical Physiology University of Nairobi ------ Signature.... Date...31st August 2010. Prof. Jeanne Altmann, PhD Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, USA. Amboseli Baboon Research Project Co- Director, Kenya Signature.... ...............Date....... 31st August 2010 Prof. Susan Alberts, PhD Department of Biology, Duke University Amboseli Baboon Research Project Co- Director, Kenya TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION...................................................................................................................................i TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................................ii LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES..........................................................................................................................vii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................. viii ACKNOW LEDGEMENTS..............................................................................................................ix ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................... x 1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................3 2.1 GROOMING...................................................................................................................................3 2.1.1 Definition.................................................................................................................................3 2.1.2 Types of grooming...................................................................................................................3 2.1.3 Functions of grooming.............................................................................................................4 a) Social functions of grooming.....................................................................................................4 b) Health functions of grooming....................................................................................................4 2.1.4 Cost of grooming...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.5 Grooming quality and quantity..................................................................................................5 2.1.6 Factors affecting grooming.......................................................................................................7 a) Dominance rank........................................................................................................................ 7 b) Age and sex...............................................................................................................................8 c) Kinship...................................................................................................................................... 8 d) Reproductive state..................................................................................................................... 9 e) Ectoparasite host relationship.....................................................................................................9 2.2 TICK BORNE DISEASES............................................................................................................ 10 2.2.1 Ectoparasites of baboons in Amboseli 10 a) Definition of ectoparasites.......................................................................................................10 b) Detrimental effects of baboon ectoparasites............................................................................10 2.2.2 Ticks and tick borne diseases.............................................................................................. 10 a) Definition and classification of ticks....................................................................................... 10 b) Tick species found in Amboseli..............................................................................................11 c) Distribution and Life Cycle......................................................................................................12 d) Economic Consequences of Ticks...........................................................................................13 e) Tick borne haemoparasitic infections in baboons.....................................................................14 3.0 HYPOTHESIS..............................................................................................................................17 3.1 NULL HYPOTHESIS................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS....................................................................................................... 17 4.0 OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................................. 18 5.0 MATERIALS AND M ETHODS...............................................................................................19 5.1 STUDY AREA AND SITES.........................................................................................................19 5.1.1 Amboseli................................................................................................................................19 5.1.2 University of Nairobi and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)............................20 5.1.3 Institute of Primate Research..................................................................................................20 5.2 CONSTRUCTION OF DATA SETS FOR HYPOTHESIS TESTING............................................21 5.2.1 Determining grooming quantity and factors affecting grooming in wild yellow baboons........21 a) Grooming data.........................................................................................................................21 b) Dominance rank......................................................................................................................22 c) Demographic data................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.2 Determining ectoparasite populations on yellow baboons.......................................................24 a) Tick collection.........................................................................................................................24 b) Tick identification and distribution..........................................................................................24 c) Tick counts/loads..................................................................................................................... 25 5.2.3 Determining haemoparasite infection in wild yellow baboons............................................... 25 iii a) Packed Cell Volume (PCV).................................................................................................... 25 b) Lymph nodes traits..................................................................................................................25 c) Laboratory tests.......................................................................................................................26 i) Blood smears........................................................................................................................26 ii) Differential White Blood Cell counts.................................................................................. 26 Hi) Genomic DNA preparation and PCR amplification........................................................... 27 5.3 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF RESULTS....................................................................... 29 6. 0 RESULTS..................................................................................................................................30 6.1 DETERMINATION OF GROOMING RECEIVED AND FACTORS AFFECTING GROOMING IN WILD YELLOW BABOONS.......................................................................................................30 6.1.1 Grooming received and sex.....................................................................................................32 6.1.2 Grooming Received and Age..................................................................................................34