Ixodid ticks (Arachnida: Acari) prevalence associated with risk factors in the bovine host in District Quetta, Balochistan

Abstract

The present study aimed at determining the hard tick species and their abundance with respect to hostrelated risk factors in Bos permiginu s cattle was conducted in farm houses at three main regions (Western by-pass, Spiny village, and Sariab region) of District Quetta from March, 2013 to March, 2014. Around 1649 ticks were captured from six main body parts of 404 cattle. Of these 346 (65.96%) were observed to be plagued by one or more tick infestation. Compositions of tick species captured from the host were Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (33.39%), followed by Dermacenter andersoni (31.76%), Hyalomma aegyptium (26.16%), and Boophilus microplus (8.67%). The risk factor like sex and age of cattle did not demonstrate enormous relationship with the infestation ratio but rather there was relationship with both breeds and body conditions. The commonness of tick infestation in medium body condition (92.9%), poor body condition (57.44%), and good body condition (87.39%) was observed to be significant at P-value (P < 0.01) among the three body. Analysis of sex wise tick counting with age of animals revealed positive and significant correlation (P = 0.1145, P < 0.05). The ratio of tick infestation was observed to be insignificant (P < 0.01) among the breeds, with most elevated prepotency in local (88.97%) and cross breeds (13.33%), respectively.