J Parasit Dis (Apr-June 2019) 43(2):256–262 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-019-01086-7 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Distribution and prevalence of ticks on livestock population in endemic area of Kyasanur forest disease in Western Ghats of Kerala, South India 1 2 1 1 R. Balasubramanian • Pragya D. Yadav • S. Sahina • V. Arathy Nadh Received: 1 August 2018 / Accepted: 10 January 2019 / Published online: 22 January 2019 Ó Indian Society for Parasitology 2019 Abstract Tick borne zoonotic diseases are one of the Keywords Tick Á Ectoparasite Á Rhipicephalus microplus Á major emerging threats to live stock and public health in Haematophagous Á Tick borne disease India, especially in Western Ghats of south India. Since livestock and wild animals share habitats and grasslands, it is important to know the species composition of major tick Introduction parasitism on live stock as well as their geographical dis- tribution for effective control of tick and tick borne dis- Ticks have become competent vectors, efficient distributers eases. This study provides basic knowledge that is and amplifying agents of diverse pathogens within animal necessary to initiate Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) pre- and human populations. The rate of effective contact vention programs in these areas. Ticks were sampled from between vector ticks with their host and the obtaining of Wayanad districts of Kerala from domestic animals and blood meals are the driving forces of the rapid distribution identified morphologically. A total of 195 cattle searched, of tick borne diseases within and among populations. (Peter in which 168 (86.15%) cattle were infested with ticks and a et al. 2005; Razmi et al. 2007; Ghosh and Nagar 2014). In total of 3633 ticks comprising three genera and seven India, 106 tick species were recorded to be infesting species were collected, Rhipicephalus microplus (52.71%) domestic and wild animals (Geevarghese et al. 1997). was prevalent species followed by Haemaphysalis bispi- These ticks are of very high veterinary and medical nosa (16.9%), Rhipicephalus decoloratus (15.77%), importance because of its major effect on the animal hus- Haemaphysalis turturis (11.42%), Rhipicephalus san- bandry and productivity of livestock, weight gain, milk guineus (1.32%), Amblyomma integrum (1.15%) and production and quality of hide (De Castro et al. 1997) and Haemaphysalis spinigera (0.71%) were identified based on zoonotic pathogen transmission to humans. The global their morphological characters. As R. microplus was the economic losses due to tick infestation have been estimated prevalent species, the risk of transmission of babesiosis and as US $14,000–18,000 million annually and in India it was anaplasmosis to cattle increases and the presence of approximately US $ 498.7 million (Singh and Rath 2013). Haemaphysalis sp. point out the risk of KFD in among the In addition these animals are also serving as reproductive tribal colony people and it can be reduced by applying with host for KFD vector ticks. acaricides on domestic animals. In India, the studies on ticks received importance after the discovery of KFD, transmitted by Haemaphysalis sp. in Western Ghats (Mourya et al. 2014). In human variety of tick species involved in the transmission of different pathogens which cause diseases like borreliosis or lyme & R. Balasubramanian diseases which is transmitted by Ixodid ticks (Maria et al. [email protected] 2012), Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by 1 T D Medical College and Hospital, National Institute of Dermacentor sp. (Socolovschi et al. 2009a, b), Rick- Virology - Kerala Unit, Alappuzha, Kerala 688005, India ettsiosis and Boutonneuse fever transmitted by Rhipi- 2 National Institute of Virology, Pune 411021, India cephalus sanguineus (Socolovschi et al. 2009a, b; Levin 123 J Parasit Dis (Apr-June 2019) 43(2):256–262 257 et al. 2009). Hyalomma sp. and Haemaphysalis sp. which influence of southwest monsoons and less rainfall under the are responsible for viral diseases of Crimean–Congo influence of the northeast monsoons. haemorrhagic fever and Kyasanur forest disease (Mourya The abundance of vegetations and forest region provides et al. 2014). The epidemic of Indian tick typhus was favourable conditions for the survival of several tick spe- reported from Himachal Pradesh (Kumar et al. 2011) and cies. The present study was performed in five different serologically positive cases of Lyme disease and rick- tribal villages (Tholpetty, Thottamoola, Cheeyambam, ettsiosis were reported from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Kallumukku and Alathoor) in the northwest and southwest (Sharma et al. 1992; Stephen et al. 2018). The first instance part of the district (Fig. 1) from January to May-2017. of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever was detected from Cattle and goat are the main domestic livestock in the study Gujarat (Kumar et al. 2014). Since livestock and wild area. Wild elephant, deer, giant squirrel, monkey, bison, animals share habitats and grassland in these regions, boars and wolf are very abundant throughout the district, studies are necessary to determine if ticks can transmit mostly in transition areas between forests and farmlands. In pathogens between livestock and wildlife, and even to addition, small rodents and reptiles, which are major hosts humans in the region. This study provides very important for ticks, are also abundant in the district. information and basic knowledge that is necessary to ini- tiate KFD prevention programs in these areas. In Kerala Tick collection and identification KFD is endemic in Wayanad district, however, only a few studies were done about the tick fauna in different hosts Whole body of each domestic animal was searched thor- (Prakasan and Ramani 2007; Shyma et al. 2013). It is oughly for the presence of ticks during day time. Precau- important to know the prevalence of the tick species par- tions were taken before collecting ticks from cattle by asitism on cattle as well as their geographical distribution wearing gloves, mask and applying the repellent Benzyl for the control of tick and tick borne diseases. The aim of benzoate (I.P.25%) lotion to avoid the tick bites. The ticks present study is to reveal the common tick fauna present in were gently plucked up from the body of the host by hand domestic animals of KFD endemic area in tribal settle- with fingers were shield with rubber gloves or with the aid ments of Wayanad district, Kerala. of blunt pointed tweezers. Ticks were grasped as close to the skin surface as possible and pulled upward with steady even pressure. Both nymph and adult ticks were collected Materials and methods and all were in fully blood fed condition. The specimens were kept in separate containers and preserved in 70% Ethical clearance ethanol. Then the samples were labeled with the date, host, and locality on each container. These samples were trans- All aspects involving domestic animals use were conducted ported to the laboratory of Medical entomology and in accordance with the Indian Animal Welfare Act, 2011 Zoology, National Institute of Virology-Kerala unit, (section 11), and recognized standards for the care and use Alappuzha. The preserved specimens were washed, dehy- of animals. Written consent from cattle owners were also drated and subjected for KOH treatment and mounted on a taken as a prior permission for tick collection from slide by using DPX (Distyrene, a plasticizer and Xylene) or respective cattle. Canada balsam for further reference. Adult ticks were identified up to species level following standard keys Study area (Walker et al. 2013; Geevarghese and Mishra 2011) under stereomicroscope. Wayanad district is a hill district in North-East of Kerala with an area of 2131 km2, in the part of Western Ghats lie Site mapping and statistical analysis between Latitude N 11°370 and Longitude E 76°580 and situated at an altitude ranging from 2500 to 3000 ft above Geographic coordinates of collection sites were marked Sea Level. Wayanad district has the highest forest cover of using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS). These 83.3%, agriculture and animal husbandry is the principal coordinates were integrated to a GIS database using the occupation of the people. The district has highest tribal software Arc GIS to map the distribution of ticks in population of about 1.25 lakh consisting 17% of the total domestic animals of the associated area. Spearman’s Cor- population. This region experiences a moderate, relation analysis was used to assess the statistical signifi- semitropical climate with an average temperature of cance among tick species using IBM-SPSS statistics viewer 18–30 °C in summer and winter with mean rainfall of (version 20). 2786 mm and the annual average relative humidity is above 60%. The area receives most of its rainfall under the 123 258 J Parasit Dis (Apr-June 2019) 43(2):256–262 Fig. 1 Spatial distribution map of study area inWayanad district Result A total of 3633 ticks comprising adult 2607 (71.76%) and immature 1026 (28.24%) ticks belonging to three The study was conducted from January to May from five genera and 7 species were collected, namely Rhipi- sites such as Alathoor, Cheeyambam, Kallumukku, Thol- cephalus, Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma are commonly petty and Thottamoola in Western Ghats of Wayanad dis- prevalent in all sites studied. The highest prevalence rate trict, Kerala state. A total of 195 domestic animals were was identified as Rhipicephalus microplus 1915 (52.71%) searched in which 168 (86.15%) animals were found pos- and it was the most predominant tick species, followed by itive for ectoparasitism. The details of cattle tick infestation R. decoloratus 573 (15.77%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa are presented in Table 1. Among the total animals surveyed 614 (16.9%), H. turturis 415 (11.42%), R. sanguineus 48 68.20% of cattle and 17.94% goats were infested with one (1.32%), Amblyomma integrum 42 (1.15%) and H.