Survey of Hard ticks (Ixodidae) infesting One-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kano State - Nigeria

Abstract

This investigation was carried out in order to determine the prevalence and abundance of hard ticks infesting camels in Kano State, Nigeria. Four hundred and fourteen (414) nomadic one - humped camels in Kano State were selected by simple random sampling technique and examined between January and December 2007. Three species of ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus pulchellus) were found to be common. H. dromedarii had the highest prevalence of 57.97%, followed by A. variegatum (42.03%) and R. pulchellus (25.12%). Of the 10,178 ticks collected, 63.20% were H. dromedarii while A. variegatum and R. pulchellus formed 28.30% and 8.50% respectively. Prevalence and tick load per camel was found to be influenced by sex of camel and season of the year. However, irrespective of tick species, males were found to be more abundant. Males of all the three species put together formed 59.56% (6,062/10,178) of the total ticks collected on camels in the area. The presence of H. dromedarii, A. variegatum and R. pulchellus on camels in the area have serious implication for animal health and to some extent humans, considering the fact that these ticks serve as vectors of both human and animal diseases. To minimise these dangers, strategic control methods could be useful in the control of ticks recorded during the survey.

Keywords: Ecto-parasites, Infestation, Prevalence, Abundance, Camel

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 61-66