Morphological study of the cattle ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting on sheep in Alnnajaf Province-Iraq

Abstract

Present study was conducted during period (March to September 2018) on the cattle ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) that infested on sheep goat ears in Alnnajaf Province. Two species of hard ticks were identified Boophilus annulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the species B. annulatus was most predominant than the species R. sanguineus at percentages (92.14, 7.85) % respectively. Of these ticks, 105 were female, 38 were males, 124 and 144 were nymph females and males respectively and there were not larva observed. The monthly samples of hard tick B. annulatus revealed that higher monthly samples during September, but lower monthly samples during June and July. Results of Scanner Electron Microscope analyses showed more distinguished fine characters of B. annulatus that differentiated from R. sanguineus, however both species were lived together on sheep and goat.