Species composition of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on domestic animals and their public health importance in Tamil Nadu, South India

Abstract

This study was carried out in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu State, South India. Ticks were collected from cows, dogs, goats, cats, and fowls. The overall percentage of tick infestation in these domestic animals was 21.90%. The following ticks were identified: Amblyomma integrum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis paraturturis, Haemaphysalis turturis, Haemaphysalis intermedia, Haemaphysalis spinigera, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma brevipunctata, Hyalomma kumari, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The predominant species recorded from these areas is R. sanguineus (27.03%) followed by both R (B.) microplus (24.12%) and R. (B.) decoloratus (18.82%). The maximum tick infestation rate was recorded in animals from rural areas (25.67%), followed by semi-urban (21.66%) and urban (16.05%) areas. This study proved the predominance of hard ticks as parasites on domestic animals and will help the public health personnel to understand the ground-level situation and to take up necessary control measures to prevent tick-borne diseases.

Keywords

• Ticks
• domestic
• animals
• Ixodidae
• prevalence

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