An investigation into the distribution, host-preference and population density of Ixodid ticks affecting domestic animals in Bangladesh

Abstract

To study the distribution, host-preference and population density of ixodid ticks in Bangladesh, an attempt was made to collect adult ticks from various host animals in three distinct topographic zones, viz. flood plains, hills and steppe 'Barind'. Five species of ixodid ticks were recorded, namely, Boophilus microplus (56.3%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (11.3%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (14.7%), Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (15.0%) and Amblyomma testudinarium (2.8%). The data showed that B. microplus occurred predominantly on cattle (42.4%). The other hosts involved were buffaloes (12.5%), goats (25.5%) and pigs (8.2%). H. bispinosa mostly parasitized goats (31.5%) rather than cattle (12.0%) and buffaloes (10.8%). R. sanguineus was principally a dog tick (27.4%) but also parasitized cattle (10.8%) and goats (6.8%). H. a. anatolicum was restricted to cattle (19.2%) and A. testudinarium was found on both cattle (4.4%) and pigs (2.3%). These results indicate that ixodid ticks are not strictly host-specific except for H. a. anatolicum. The population density of these ticks was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by the changing of seasons. B. microplus, H. bispinosa and R. sanguineus were by far the most widely distributed species; the distribution of H. a. anatolicum was restricted to the steppe 'Barind tract' and A. testudinarium was found in the hilly regions only.

Tick and Tick Borne Protozoan Diseases of Livestock in the Selected Hilly Areas of Bangladesh

“…Between the two tick species recorded in this study, B. microplus is widely distributed throughout the country but the distribution of A. testudinarium is restricted to hilly areas. This distribution pattern of ticks has previously been reported by Mondal et al (1995Mondal et al ( , 1996 and Islam et al (1999Islam et al ( , 2006. Dense vegetation in the hills with high rainfall above 3000mm annually may have favored the distribution of A. testudinarium (Islam et al, 2006).…”

Prevalence and seasonal variation in ixodid ticks on cattle of Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

“…Vatsya et al (2008) and Kumar (1996) reported that animals were infected with ticks throughout the year with maximum infestation during rainy season, moderate during summer and least during winter season. Contradictory to our findings Islam et al (2006) found that B. microplus, Ripicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma bispinosa infestation was higher in summer season in cattle of Bangladesh.…”

Diversity and distribution of tick species infesting goats with two new host records from Sri Lanka

“…A recent survey carried out in Bangladesh with sub-tropical monsoon climate (Islam et al, 2006) and Tamil Nadu State in India with tropical climate and little seasonal variations (Soundararajan et al, 2014) shows that H. bispinosa parasitise more goats than any other domesticated animal and that it is widely distributed. In the present study H. bispinosa was the most common species in the Wet and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka.…”