Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions for integrated tick and Theileria control at the wildlife-livestock interface in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe

Tick-borne diseases remain a major constraint to cattle production in sub-Saharan Africa, with theileriosis posing a persistent challenge in communal grazing systems.In Zimbabwe's Midlands Province, acaricide-based tick control is increasingly undermined by resistance, inconsistent compliance, and environmental concerns.This study integrated molecular epidemiology, farmer survey data, and ecological analysis to evaluate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions for sustainable tick and Theileria control.Ticks collected from cattle in Gweru, Kwekwe and Mvuma districts were screened using PCR, revealing circulation of Theileria parva, Theileria taurotragi, and locally distinct variants, with higher prevalence in wildlife-livestock interface areas.A structured questionnaire administered to 390 farmers indicated heavy reliance on synthetic acaricides, declining adherence to dipping schedules, and widespread reports of reduced acaricide efficacy.Integrated analysis demonstrated strong associations between interface intensity, tick burden, and infection risk.Based on these findings, a nature-based control framework incorporating botanical acaricides, grazing management, biodiversity-supported biological control, and eco-efficient dipping infrastructure is proposed.The study demonstrates that sustainable control of tick-borne theileriosis requires a shift from chemical dependency towards integrated, ecosystembased approaches aligned with green infrastructure and One Health principles.