Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 416

Full Length Research Paper

Study on prevalence and identification of ticks in Humbo district, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

Pawlos Wasihun
  • Pawlos Wasihun
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Derese Doda
  • Derese Doda
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar


  •  Accepted: 15 February 2013
  •  Published: 31 March 2013

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of cattle tick species in Humbo woreda, Wolaita zone, was studied over a period of 6 months from November, 2011 to April, 2012. Adult ticks were collected from seven main body regions of 384 cattle which were under extensive management system. Out of the total of 384 cattle examined, 238 (61%) were found to be infested by one or more tick species. About 2,439 adult ticks were collected from the animal body parts and identified to genera and species level. Five tick species of three genera (Amblyomma, Boophilus and Rhipicephalus) were identified. The relative prevalence of each species was Boophilus decolaratus (30%), Rhipicephalus evertsi-evertsi (25%), Amblyomma varigatum (25%), A. cohaerence (11%), and A. lepidium(6%). The risk factors like sex and age of cattle did not show significant association with the infestation rate but there was association with both breeds and body conditions. The prevalence of tick infestation in medium body condition (78%), poor body condition (67%), and good body condition (57%) was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) among the three groups of body conditions. The prevalence of tick infestation was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) among the three breeds, with highest prevalence in exotic breeds (100%) than both cross (80%) and local breeds (58%). The result indicated that the favorable predilection sites of Amblyommaspecies are ventral body and perineum. B. decolaratus preferred dewlap, udder/scrotum, belly, leg/tail, head, and perineum. R. eversti-evertsi had a strong predilection sites for perineum, dewlap, udder/scrotum, and ears. The sex ratio of all tick species identified during this study periods was skewed towards male except forB. decolaratus. Considering the economic importance of tick and tick borne diseases (TBDs) in the Humbo district, also in the country, there should be country wide control strategy, taking into account acaricide residues in products.

 

Key words: Attachment site, cattle, Humbo woreda, ixodidae, prevalence, tick burden.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 5 No. 3
Back to articles
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES