ORIGINAL ARTICLE European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology www.ejbio.org A Survey of Ticks Infestation on Some Domestic Animals in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria Wahedi J. Alexander, Ande A. Taiwo, Pukuma S. Micah, David Comfort, Danladi Thomas, and Adokwe J. Bawa ABSTRACT Published Online: May 26, 2020 Infestation of domestic animals with ticks constitutes both a major health ISSN: 2684-5199 and economic problem in livestock production. The study was conducted to identify the species of ticks infesting domestic animals such DOI : 10.24018/ejbio.2020.1.3.25 as cattle, sheep and goats in Mubi cattle market, Adamawa State. Ten J. A. Wahedi* (10) each of cattle, sheep and goat were randomly selected at Mubi Cattle Department of Zoology, Faculty of Market at every collection date, and were examined for tick infestation. Science, Adamawa State University, Ticks were collected from different predilection sites. Ticks collected Mubi, Nigeria. were transferred to Safe-Lock Eppendorf tubes containing 70% ethanol. (e-mail: wahedijasini010 @gmail.com ) The specimens were identified to species level using hand lens and A. T. Ande dissecting microscope. A total of 232 adult ticks (17 male, 215 females) Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life were collected. 8 species of ticks were identified across three genera Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. (e-mail: andeolu @yahoo.com ) namely Ripicephalus microplus (79.74%) was the most prevalent, S. M. Pukuma followed by Ripicephalus decoloratus (9.05%), Amblyomma variegatum Department of Zoology, School of Life (4.31%), Rhipicephalus simus (3.02%), Hyalomma dromedarii (2.16%), Sciences, Modibbo Adama University of Amblyomma habraeum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (0.86%), Technology, Yola, Nigeria. respectively, and the least was Hyalomma truncatum (0.43%). Cattle (e-mail: [email protected]) were the most heavily infested (44.8%), followed by sheep (33.6%) and C. David goat (21.6%). The study revealed that livestock in Mubi were infested by Department of Zoology, Faculty of varieties of ticks especially Ripicephalus microplus which was the highest Science, Adamawa State University, Mubi. and found on all the animals examined. (e-mail: comfortdavid26 @gmail.com ) T. Danladi Department of Zoology, Faculty of Keywords: Cattle, Goat, Sheep, Ticks. Science, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria. (e-mail: thomasdanladi9 @gmail.com ) J. B. Adokwe Department of Environmental Quality Control, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria. (e-mail: jonadokwe @yahoo.com ) *Corresponding Author ([email protected]) 11.5 million were found in pastoral systems, while the I. INTRODUCTION remaining 2.4 million were found in villages [4]. However, Ticks are obligate ectoparasites of variety of vertebrates the production and productivity have been hugely affected and are distributed worldwide [1]. Ticks are grouped in to by low or poor husbandry practices, inadequate feed supply three families, of which two genera are of economic and disease constraints particularly ectoparasite infestations, importance to domestic animals. The family Argasidae is thereby limiting the protein supply by the livestock [5]. made of the genera Argas (Ornithodoros, and Otobius) Ticks remain one of the most economically important known as the soft ticks because their outer body surfaces parasites of domestic animals in tropical and subtropical lack hard plates [2]. The family Ixodidae known as the hard countries [2]. ticks contains 14 genera namely Amblyomma, Dermacentor, The warm climate in the tropical and subtropical Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes, Margaropus, and countries is of enormous importance to ticks of domestic Rhipicephalus. Also, the important boophilid ticks, formerly animals, as it enables them to flourish [1]. Also, the large of the genus Boophilus, are now classified as a subgenus populations of wild animals in warm countries provide a within the genus Rhipicephalus [3]. reservoir of ticks and infective microbes that spread to In Nigeria, livestock population was estimated at 34.5 domestic animals [2]. The medical and economic million goats, 22.1 million sheep and 13.9 million cattle importance of ticks has been recognized worldwide and populations [4]. Of the 13.9 million heads of cattle, about their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejbio.2020.1.3.25 Vol 1 | Issue 3 | M ay 2020 1 ORIGINAL ARTICLE European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology www.ejbio.org This is attributed to their blood feeding habit [3, 6]. Tick and recorded on predesigned form. infestation in cattle can cause anaemia, stress, reduction in D. Identification of Ticks weight gain and milk yields, depreciation of hide value, hypersensitivity, toxicosis and predispose animals to Tick samples were transported to the Zoology Laboratory, secondary infections [7]. According to Kumar et al. [8], Adamawa State University for morphological identification. The specimens were identified to species level using a hand cattle that graze in pastures and forest, are exposed to lens and dissecting microscope, with the aid of identification infestation by varieties of ticks. More than 80% of the world keys described by Walker et al. [11]. domestic animal population is infested with ticks which cause harm to animals through blood loss, general stress and E. Data Analysis irritation, suppression of immune function, damages to hides Data generated were subjected to descriptive statistics and skins [1]. Although, economic losses due to ticks are such as percentages, table format to explain the incidence of mainly due to the diseases which they transmit, financial tick distribution on domestic animals in the study area. losses associated with nagging irritation and depreciation of the value of skins and hides (up to 20–30%) are also III. RESULTS significant [4]. It has been observed however, that animal, If A total of 232 adult ticks (17 male, 215 females) were infected with ticks reduce their feed intake compare to collected (Table 1) from 3 genera of ticks (Amblyomma, animal, not exposed to ticks [9].These effect cause losses of Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus). 8 species of ticks were several billions of dollars in the global livestock economy. identified namely, Rhipicephalus microplus, Amblyomma The losses due to ticks and tick-borne diseases around the variegatum, Rhipicephalus simus, Amblyomma hebraeum, globe were put at US$ 13.9 to US$ 18.7 billion annually [2]. Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Therefore, the high losses due to disease, damage to the skin Ripicephalus microplus was the most prevalent species and death of animals as a result of tick infestation on (79.74%), followed by Ripicephalus decoloratus (9.05%), domestic animals necessitate the need for this study. and the least was Hyalomma truncatum (0.43%). Identification of the types of ticks infesting domestic All the species of ticks identified were found on sheep animals could contribute a vital role in designing cost (Table 2). The results showed that Rhipicephalus microplus effective control measures for the ticks. (70.51%) was the most reoccurring ticks on sheep in Mubi, followed by Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus simus with 07(8.97%) . Male ticks of Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus II. MATERIALS AND METHODS decoloratus were not recorded on sheep in Mubi. However, A. Study Area majority (88.46%) of the ticks found on sheep was females Mubi in Adamawa State, Nigeria. is located on latitude and few (11.54%) were males. 10.27’ N and longitude 13.27’ E, situated at 592 meters Three (3) species of ticks were identified on goats above sea level. It has tropical climate located within the namely, Rhipicephalus microplus (68.0%), Rhipicephalus Sudan savanna zone. It has average temperature of about decoloratus (28.0%) and Amblyomma variegatum 32˚C, with a minimum of 15.2ºC between December and (4.0%).The female were also dominant (92.00%) compared January. The area has an average relative humidity of 28 to to male (8.00%), as shown in Table 3. 45% and annual rainfall of about 1050 mm. The rainy In Table 4, Showed 6 different species of ticks were season is between May to October, while the dry season is recorded on cattle in Mubi. Rhipicephalus microplus between November to April [10]. exhibited high preponderance (92.31%). No male ticks of Hylomma dromedarii, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and B. Selection of Domestic Animals for Tick Collection Amblyomma variegatum were recorded in cattle in Mubi. Animals used for the study were Cattle, Sheep and Goat. However, majority of the ticks found on cattle were females Ten (10) each of three selected animals were randomly (96.16%) with few males (3.85%). selected at Mubi Cattle Market at every collection date, and Table 5, shows the distribution of different species of were examined for tick infestation. Sample collections were ticks on cattle, sheep and goat in Mubi. The results revealed performed four (4) times, between October and November, the absence of Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus 2019 at two (2) weeks interval. simus species on both Cattle and goat. Meanwhile, C. Collection and Preservation of Ticks Ambyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus microplus were found on all the domestic The informed consent of the animal owners was first animals examined, but Rhipicephalus microplus was higher obtained before inspection and collection from each of the selected animal. The predilection sites examined for ticks with 185 (79.74%) of the total population.. were, ears, brisket (dewlap in the case of cattle); withers; TABLE 1: Cumulative counts, number of males and females, and male: knees; and udder in the case of females, and testes in males female ratio of ticks identified in Mubi. along with the perineum region; and tail. Ticks were Species of ticks Total (%) Males Females Male: collected from predilection sites using a forceps, hand glove, Female beaker and dissecting tray. A blunt steel forceps were used Ratio for large sized ticks. Collected ticks were transferred to Amblyomma hebraeum 2 (0.86) 0 2 0:2 Safe-Lock Eppendorf tubes containing 70% ethanol.