DRY SEASON SURVEY ON ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF IXODID TICKS IN CATTLE IN AUYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Dry season survey on ticks was conducted to determine the genera, prevalence and distribution in various breeds of cattle in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 258 cattle were examined, out of which 51(19.8%) were males and 207(80.2%) females. An overall prevalence of 58.9% was recorded in all cattle examined. One hundred and seventy three ticks of three genera belonging to the family ixodidac were collected and identified of which Red Bororo recorded 65(37.6%), crossbreeds had 41(23.7%), White Fulani had 40(37.6%) while Sokoto gudali had 27 (15.6%). Of the tick genera identified, their prevalence showed, Amblyomma spp 87(50.3%) as the commonest, followed by Boophilus spp 69 (39.9%) and Hyalomma spp 17(9.8%). Distribution of ticks infestation by sex was significantly higher (P<0.05) in males 38(74.5%) then in females 114(55.1%). Tick infestation was significantly (P<0.05) higher in adults 115(65.3%) than in calves 37(57.2%). Dunkan Fulani recorded highest revalence 89(70.6%) of tick infestation by location.