Studies on the Vertical Distribution of Ticks of Domestic Animals and Their Public Health Importance in Nilgiri Hills and Adjoining Areas of Tamil Nadu State (India)

Abstract

The Nilgiri hills and adjoining downhill areas provide favourable ecological conditions for the propagation of haematophagous arthropods owing to richness in vegetation and animal activities. A study has been undertaken during 2008–2010 on the distribution and abundance of ticks of domestic animals in seven different biotopes. A total of 3,008 domestic animals were examined in areas ranging from an altitude of 300 to 2200 meters above mean sea level (MSL) of which 1,335 (44.5%) animals were having tick infestation. A total of 6,012 adult and immature ticks belonging to 12 species (11 ixodid and one argasid) were collected. Eleven tick species were collected from Kallar area situated downhill eastern slopes of the Nilgiris followed by Burliar area (7 species) located at higher altitudes. From Masinagudi area near to dense forests and scrub jungles, five species were recorded. However, at higher elevations on the hills, Udhagamandalam area, only one species was recorded. Among various tick species recorded in the study,Boophilus micropluswas distributed in almost all areas surveyed followed byHaemaphysalis spinigeraandRhipicephalus sanguineus. The factors governing their distribution and epidemiological significance in the transmission of various tick-borne diseases of public health importance are discussed.

Distribution and prevalence of ticks on livestock population in endemic area of Kyasanur forest disease in Western Ghats of Kerala, South India

“…The most prevalent species observed in the study was R. microplus and H. bispinosa which was found infesting majority of the cattle and goat. The highest prevalence of R. microplus in Nilgiri, the adjoining area of Wayanad district in Western Ghats and also the same result was observed in KFD endemic area of Karnataka (Rajagopalan and Sreenivasan 1981;Kumar et al 2014). It is considered as the most important tick parasite of livestock in the world and carries many pathogens (Ghosh and Nagar 2014;Kumar et al 2014;Manaswini et al 2017).…”

“…The highest prevalence of R. microplus in Nilgiri, the adjoining area of Wayanad district in Western Ghats and also the same result was observed in KFD endemic area of Karnataka (Rajagopalan and Sreenivasan 1981;Kumar et al 2014). It is considered as the most important tick parasite of livestock in the world and carries many pathogens (Ghosh and Nagar 2014;Kumar et al 2014;Manaswini et al 2017). According to Rajagopalan and Sreenivasan (1981) these species did not show any definite seasonal pattern of infestation.…”

“…The epidemic of Indian tick typhus was reported from Himachal Pradesh (Kumar et al 2011) and serologically positive cases of Lyme disease and rickettsiosis were reported from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (Sharma et al 1992;Stephen et al 2018). The first instance of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was detected from Gujarat (Kumar et al 2014). Since livestock and wild animals share habitats and grassland in these regions, studies are necessary to determine if ticks can transmit pathogens between livestock and wildlife, and even to humans in the region.…”

Assessment of risk factors of African Swine Fever in India: perspectives on future outbreaks and control strategies

“…The present outbreak of ASF in India is still not known in the context of transmission involving tick vectors/biting flies/infective secretions and tissues or possibility of indirect transmission by fomites. Since, Ornithodoros species have already been found to be associated with other diseases and its prevalence has been reported from Gujarat Shyma et al, 2019), Nilgiri Hills and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu (Kumar et al, 2014), there may be a possibility of involvement of Ornithodoros species with the present outbreak of ASF in the NE India. The paucity of research on prevalence of Ornithodoros ticks and their probable role in the transmission of various diseases of animal and public health importance in the country might further enhance the possibility of further outbreaks of ASF in other pig rearing states of India.…”

Assessment of Risk Factors of African Swine Fever in India: Perspectives on Future Outbreaks and Control Strategies

“…The present outbreak of ASF in India is still not known in the context of transmission involving tick vectors/biting flies/infective secretions and tissues or possibility of indirect transmission by fomites. Since Ornithodoros species have already been found to be associated with other diseases and its prevalence has been reported from Gujarat [ 52 , 58 ], Nilgiri Hills and the adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu [ 59 ], there may be a possibility of involvement of Ornithodoros species with the present outbreak of ASF in NE India. The paucity of research on prevalence of Ornithodoros ticks and their probable role in the transmission of various diseases of animal and public health importance in the country might further enhance the possibility of future outbreaks of ASF in other pig rearing states of India.…”