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Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Prevalence of Ticks on Indigenous Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Volume 16 (Number 3). September, 2018 RESEARCH ARTICLE Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences (P-ISSN 1595-093X: E-ISSN 2315-6201) http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sokjvs.v16i3.10 Akande et al./Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 16(3): 66-71. Prevalence of ticks on indigenous breed of hunting dogs in Ogun State, Nigeria FA Akande1*, AF Adebowale1, OA Idowu1 & OO Sofela2 1. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 224, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria 2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria *Correspondence: Tel.: +2348035008607; E-mail: [email protected] Copyright: © 2018 Abstract Akande et al. This is an Ticks are haematophagous arthropods that are important vectors of diseases of open-access article animals and humans, many of which are zoonotic, thus predisposing humans, published under the including hunters to risk. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence terms of the Creative of tick infestation among hunting dogs with the aim of determining the danger which Commons Attribution the presence of ticks portends, bearing in mind that hunting dogs are kept by the duo License which permits of rural and urban dwellers. A total of one hundred and nine (109) hunting dogs were unrestricted use, sampled from nineteen (19) different locations in the State. The age, weight and sex distribution, and of the dogs were noted and recorded as variables. The dogs were thoroughly reproduction in any examined for ticks and other ectoparasites which were collected into properly medium, provided the labelled plastic containers and were transported to the laboratory for identification. original author and Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of tick infestation between source are credited. recorded variables. Significance level was set at p = 0.05 or less. The overall prevalence of tick infestation in the 109 hunting dogs was 56%. The tick prevalence in the male dogs (66.7%) and that in the female dogs (51.9%) was not significantly (p> 0.05) different. Also, tick prevalence in young dogs (53.8%) and adult dogs (62.1%) was not significantly (p>0.05) different. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of tick infestation from urban and rural locations (p<0.05). Of the 352 ticks Publication History: harvested from the hunting dogs, Rhipicepalus sanguineus constituted 68.2%, Received: 24-04- 2018 Haemaphysalis leachi leachi, 30.6%; and Ambylomma variegatum, 1.21%. The Accepted: 12-07-2018 education of the hunters and other persons in close contact with dogs is required for the control of ectoparasites. Keywords: Hunting dogs, Indigenous, Nigeria, Prevalence, Ticks Introduction Ticks as obligate haematophagous arthropods and time, allowing sufficient opportunity for disease have been said to be next in importance only to transmission (Parola & Raoult, 2001, Liyanaarachchi mosquitoes among arthropods as vectors of et al., 2015). This make their presence a potential bacterial, viral, and protozoan disease agents (Opara risk for disease spread (Salih et al., 2015). Ticks are & Maxwell, 2012). Ticks can parasitize every class of important vectors of diseases of dogs and humans, vertebrates in most regions of the world and many of which are zoonotic (Otranto et al., 2009; occasionally bite humans (Parola & Raoult, 2001). Singla et al., 2016). Ticks have the potential to Ticks attach to hosts for a substantial amount of transmit a range of zoonotic pathogens among 66 Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Volume 16 (Number 3). September, 2018 which tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Lyme disease, with the aim of determining the danger which the rickettsiosis, and ehrlichiosis are emerging as presence of ticks portends, bearing in mind that international human health threats (Hudson et al., hunting dogs are kept by the duo of rural and urban 2002; Sumbria et al., 2016). These arthropods can dwellers. also harbour blood parasites such as intra- erythrocytic Babesia spp, Rocky Mountain spotted Materials and Methods fever, granulocytic anaplasmosis and tularaemia. Study area Tick bites cause irritations, redness, swellings, itching This study was carried out in nineteen different and self-trauma. One of the most harmful impacts of locations covering five local Government areas in tick bites is the release of neurotoxins from the tick Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. A total of one saliva leading to tick paralysis, systemic illness and hundred and nine (109) indigenous breed of hunting hypersensitive reactions (Taylor et al., 2007). In dogs were sampled from the nineteen (19) locations, general, different parasitic infestations including tick classified as rural and urban based on the area infestations are prevalent in stray and hunting dogs where the owners are dwelling in the study area. (Sahu et al., 2013). Many dimensions of tick development, behaviour Sample collection and disease transmission are directly linked to This study was carried out between May 2014 and environmental conditions (Singh et al., 2000). March 2015. Dogs of willing hunters were sampled Climatic conditions in the hot humid southwest for this study. The weight, age and sex of the Nigeria favour the growth and multiplication of sampled dogs were recorded, with the age been parasites including arthropods. Higher temperatures classified as either young or adult, the young dogs yield faster development rates of larvae, nymphs, sampled ranged from less than one year to a year and adults, with the precise rate of development while adult dogs were from greater than one year varying depending on stages and species. Diapause, upwards (Leticia et al., 2013). Each hunting dog was or a period of rest between stages, has latitudinal restrained with a mouth gag with the assistance of relationships corresponding to photoperiod in the the owner or handler for thorough examination of tropics and temperature-linked physiological aging in the entire body for ticks and other ectoparasites. temperate regions (Randolph, 2004; Sumbria & Ticks were collected and kept in properly labelled Singla, 2017). plastic containers for easy identification and were Among different species of ticks infesting dogs, the then transported to the Parasitology laboratory of brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is the the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and most common worldwide (Agbolade et al., 2008, Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Troyo et al., 2009; Dantas-Torres, 2010). Other University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, for ixodid ticks infesting dogs include Haemaphysalis, identification. Ixodes, Boophilus, Dermacentor and Amblyomma Identification: Harvested ticks were washed, sorted species and occur at varying level of prevalence in and transferred into plain plastic tubes containing different parts of the world (James-Rugu & Jidayi, 70% ethanol for preservation prior to identification. 2004, Ekanem et al., 2010; Wells et al., 2012). Harvested ticks were morphologically identified Otobius megnini is the only soft tick specie found in under the stereo microscope according to Soulsby dogs (Soundararajan et al., 2000). (1982) and Walker et al. (1999). The stages of Ticks infesting dogs can come in contact with human development, engorgement status and sex of the beings or other animals while in close proximity collected ticks were recorded. either during the hunting expedition which may last several days or on returning to the dwelling of Statistical analysis owners where they may double as sentinels or pets. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence It has been said that hunters are at utmost risk of of tick infestation between recorded variables using infection with ectoparasite on the body of the SPSS Version 17.A p-value of 0.05 or less was hunting dogs which may migrate to their body considered significant. through companionship and as they are also the first contact with the dogs (Macpherson et al., 2000). As Results this may serve as vectors for the spread of diseases, Out of one-hundred and nine (109) hunting dogs this present study was conducted to assess the examined, sixty-one (61) representing 56 % were prevalence of tick infestation among hunting dogs infested with ticks (Table 1). 67 Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Volume 16 (Number 3). September, 2018 Three species of ixodid ticks (Rhipicephalus 1999) and Bhubaneswar (Sahu et al., 2013) having sanguineus, Haemaphysalis laechi and Amblyomma prevalence of 45.00, 55.3, 52.3, 53 and 46.39 %, variegatum) were observed during this investigation respectively. The present findings were thus in (Table 2). Infestations involving more than one general agreement with the above reports. The species of ticks were common in the rural areas relatively high prevalence of tick infestation in this compared to the urban areas. study may be due to inadequate knowledge of the In this study, among these three species, hunters about tick infestation and the need for its Rhipicepalus sanguineus (68.2%) was found to have control. Earlier studies have documented the three the highest prevalence followed by Haemaphysalis species of ticks recordeed in this study in dogs laechi (30.6%) and Ambylomma variegatum (1.2%), (Agbolade et al., 2008; Dantas Torres, 2010). A In the hunting dogs studied, tick prevalence was higher prevalence of tick infestation in male dogs found to be higher among males (66.7%) than
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