PREVALENCE OF TICK INFESTATION ON THE ONE - HUMPED CAMELS (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) IN SEMI- ARID REGION OF SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

Résumé

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of tick infestation on the one - humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in semi- arid region of Nigeria (12⁰N, 700 to 800mm annual rainfall). The study included 208 camels made up of 116 (55.8%) males and 92 (44.2%) females of varying age groups from seventy three 73 herds and a municipal abattoir in seven Local Government Areas (Illela, Gada, Tangaza, Gwadabawa, Kware, Goronyo and Sokoto North) of the State. The four genetic strains of camels available were sampled (Ja, baki, bule and kurri). Ticks were pulled out gently from camels using forceps and identified accordingly. The overall prevalence of ticks recorded in this study was 32.2%.Three species of ticks encountered were Hyalomma dromedarii (n= 49 or 23.6%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=12 or 5.8%) and Amblyomma varriegatum (n=8 or 3.8%).This study indicates the prevalence of some tick species encountered on extensively managed camels in semi – arid zone of Nigeria and the need for timely and effective ectoparasite control.