First Pilot Study on the Prevalence of Tick Infestation in Livestock of Tehsil Hajira, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir

Abstract

| Ticks (Acari: ixodid) are blood imbibing ecto-parasite of wide range of animals. Ticks and tick-borne infections impose major economic threats to the livestock industry throughout the world. The present study reports prevalence of tick in livestock population of Tehsil Hajira of District Rawalakot Azad Kashmir. Through random sampling technique, a total of 1350 animals were scrutinized for tick infestation in 6 villages with an average 225 animals per village from Tehsil Hajira, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir. The study was piloted from June 2011 to November 2011. The performa was designed to collect the information on routine managemental practices, and customs to be performed by the farmers to their animals. The data were analysed statistically by SAS 2010. The dominant specie of ticks Hylomma anatolicum anatolicum was observed on all four species of livestock includes: Cattles (55.45%), Buffaloes (51.03%), Sheep (54.66%) and Goats (48.00%) with an overall prevalence of 51.25% in the study area. The month wise high prevalence observed during the June and July and lower prevalence during the month of November. Sex wise male and age wise young animals were found more infested compared to female and adult animals. It is the first report on tick prevalence from Azad Kashmir. There is a need of improvement and awareness regarding currently practiced tick control measures.

Distribution of ticks infesting ruminants and risk factors associated with high tick prevalence in livestock farms in the semi-arid and arid agro-ecological zones of Pakistan

“…Overall, H. anatolicum was the most abundant tick species found in this study, which agrees with previous studies from Pakistan [ 26 , 31 ] and bordering countries as well [ 32 , 33 ]. It parasitized all the animal species in both the agro-ecological zones.…”

Prevalence of Tick Infestation in Farm Animals from Punjab, Pakistan

“…The results of the current study revealed the highest prevalence of tick infestation in summer because in summer the weather was hot and humid which supported the survival of tick infestation. These results are at par with the results of Ghosh et al (2007), Shakoori (2009), Rony et al (2010), Sultana et al (2015) and Ali et al (2016) who also noted high infestation of ticks in Summer. However, the animals remained infested with ticks all over the year.…”

“…Detrimental effects of ticks to animals are loss of blood, irritation, stress and despair of the immune system. Due to the direct transmission of diseases into the host, ticks are highly responsible for economic losses in term of decreasing skin quality of cattle up to 20-30% (Sultana et al, 2015).…”

Epidemiological study of tick infestation in buffalo of various regions of district Khairpur, Pakistan

“…In our country, there were limited research reports concerning the prevalence of tick infestation found in domestic animals particularly in ruminants, and those studies were conducted in few agro-climatic regions [20-27]. A recent study conducted in two districts of lower Punjab indicates that the prevalence of bovine tick infestation (BTI) exceeds 50% [28,29].…”

“…The tick infestation is the most common and considered to be economically important in a domestic animal, and reported studies conducted in different species such as ruminants [ 11 ], sheep [ 12 - 15 ], goat [ 12 , 15 , 16 ], dairy cattle [ 15 - 18 ], and buffalo [ 16 - 19 ]. In our country, there were limited research reports concerning the prevalence of tick infestation found in domestic animals particularly in ruminants, and those studies were conducted in few agro-climatic regions [ 20 - 27 ]. A recent study conducted in two districts of lower Punjab indicates that the prevalence of bovine tick infestation (BTI) exceeds 50% [ 28 , 29 ].…”