Infestation of Zebu cattle ( Bos indicus Linnaeus) by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate the infestation of Zebu cattle by ixodid ticks in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of 500 cattle were examined and adult ticks were collected from five different body parts for morphological identification. Our results indicate that 59.8% of cattle were infested with ixodid ticks and the differences in prevalence of tick infestation between study sites, breeds and management systems were significant (p < 0.05). The intensity of tick infestation between study sites and age of cattle were also significantly different (p < 0.05). Amblyomma , Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus , including the subgenus R . ( Boophilus ) were the main genera of ixodid ticks identified in the study. Furthermore, the total number of ticks collected shows that A. variegatum (798 ind.; 37.7%) prevailed, followed by R. sanguineus sensu lato (473 ind.; 22.3%), R . ( Boophilus ) decoloratus (453 ind.; 21.4%) and H. truncatum (395 ind.; 18.6%). The prevalence of mixed infestation (40.6%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of single infestations. Most of the ticks were collected from the perineum (46.2%) and base of tail (39.3%). Amblyomma variegatum was more common at the base of tail (48.0%) while R. sanguineus s.l. (53.9%), R . ( Boophilus ) decoloratus (48.3%) and H. truncatum (46.8%) were mostly collected from the perineum. Cattle from Gwange had significantly (p < 0.05) higher burden of H. truncatum (4.2 ± 2.8) than those from Gidan madara (1.7 ± 1.1), and had significantly (p < 0.05) higher burden of R . ( Boophilus ) decoloratus (5.2 ± 4.0) than those from the Abattoir (2.4 ± 1.1) and Gidan madara (1.8 ± 1.1). Our results were discussed in relation to the control of ticks, and epidemiology of the associated tick borne diseases (TBDs) in Maiduguri and environs.

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