Epidemiology, Distribution and Identification of Ticks on Livestock in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens that cause many diseases in livestock which can result in skin damage, weight loss, anemia, reduced production of meat and milk, and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify tick species and the distribution on livestock hosts (sheep, goat, dairy cattle, and buffalo) of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Islamabad from October 2019 to November 2020. Materials and Methods: Surveillance was performed to calculate the prevalence of ticks on livestock. Tick prevalence data (area, host, breed, gender, age, and seasonal infestation rate) was recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 2080 animals were examined from selected farms, and, of these, 1129 animals were tick-infested. A total of 1010 male tick samples were identified to species using published keys. Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus decoloratus Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were collected from goats, sheep, buffalo, and cattle. The overall rates of tick infestation on livestock were 34.83% (buffalo), 57.11% (cattle), 51.97% (sheep) and 46.94% (goats). Within each species, different breeds demonstrated different proportions of infestation. For cattle breeds, infestation proportions were as follows: Dhanni (98.73%), Jersey (70.84%) and the Australian breed of cattle (81.81%). The Neeli Ravi breed (40%) of buffalo and the Beetal breed (57.35%) of goats were the most highly infested for these species. Seasonally, the highest prevalence of infestation (76.78%) was observed in summer followed by 70.76% in spring, 45.29% in autumn, and 20% in winter. The prevalence of tick infestation in animals also varied by animal age. In goats, animals aged 4–6 years showed the highest prevalence (90%), but in cattle, the prevalence of ticks was highest (68.75%) in 6 months–1-year-old animals. 1–3 years old buffalo (41.07%) and 6 months–1 year sheep (65.78%) had the highest prevalence rate. Females had significantly higher infestation rates (61.12%, 55.56% and 49.26%, respectively) in cattle, sheep, and goats. In buffalo, males showed a higher prevalence (38.46%) rate. Conclusions: This study showed tick diversity, infestation rate, and numerous factors (season, age, and gender of host) influencing tick infestation rate in different breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo in Punjab Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and Islamabad, Pakistan. Higher tick burdens and rates of tick-borne disease reduce production and productivity in animals. Understanding tick species’ prevalence and distribution will help to develop informed control measures.

Prevalence, Species Identification, and Associated Risk Factor Ixodid Tick Infestation of Cattle in Selamago District Southern Ethiopia

“…The present study showed a statistically significant difference ( P < .05) in the prevalence of tick infestation between females and males. This finding was in agreement with reports from Pakistan 31,32 and Colombia, 33 reported that female cattle had a significantly higher tick burden than males. However, the finding disagree with another study, which reported a higher tick infestation in male than females animals.…”

“…It was also suggested that the grooming of calves and the smaller surface area of animals may be factors in the lower tick burdens. 32 There was no significant difference between the body condition score in this study and previous observations in the same area. 19 A significantly higher prevalence was observed in poorbody-conditioned animals than in medium-and good-bodyconditioned animals.…”

“…This is because of the wide scutum, or shield, at the back of the abdomen in males, that doesn't allow them to engorge blood sufficiently at one time and will not drop in the first blood feeding, unlike female ticks. 55 Similar findings were reported in Pakistan, 32 where male tick counts were higher and their species identified, whereas immature and engorged female ticks were difficult to count and identify because of morphological deformity. This might be fully engorged female ticks drop to the ground to lay eggs, and some identification traits are obscured, while males tend to stay on the host to continue feeding and mating with other females.…”

Prevalence of different tick species on livestock and associated equines and canine from different agro-ecological zones of Pakistan

“…A similar study in 2 districts of lower Punjab in zone 3 reported Hyalomma as the predominant genus, followed by Rhipicephalus (39). In Multan, sheep and goats showed the prevalence of Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus infestation (40). A similar study on ticks in Quetta in zone 8 has been reported (41).…”

Ticks Infesting Dogs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Detailed Epidemiological and Molecular Report

“…sanguineus s.l. from Pakistan [ 17 , 26 , 67 ], to date no molecular evidence has been provided to solve and confirm the status of the actual species and its lineage from Pakistan. Molecularly, earlier works have revealed that a minimum of three distinguished mitochondrial lineages of Rh.…”