TY - JOUR
T1 - Tick Infestations among Cattle in Minna Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria
AU - Ejima, I.A.A. AU - Obayumi, M. AU - Olayemi, I.K. AU - Dangana, M.C.
JO - Research Journal of Applied Sciences
VL - 9
IS - 3
SP - 126
EP - 132
PY - 2014
DA - 2001/08/19
SN - 1815-932x
DO - rjasci.2014.126.132
UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjasci.2014.126.132
KW - Cattle
KW -GMI
KW -Minna Metropolis
KW -percentage abundance
KW -tick infestation
AB - A survey was carried out among cattle reared in Minna Metropolis,
Niger State for tick infestation for a period of 4 months (June to September
2012). A total number of 218 cattle were examined of which 140 (64.2%) were
found infested. Three species of ticks were identified namely: Amblyomma
variegatum, Boophilus decolaratus and Hyalomma marginatum.
The overall geometric mean intensity was 1.05. Of these species, A. variegatum
recorded the highest percentage abundance in bulls (17.7%) and cows (14.6%)
in the month of June and July, respectively. There was however, no significant
difference in the relative abundance between bulls and cows (p>0.05). Also
there was no significant difference in prevalence of infestation between the
two sexes (p>0.05). However, the highest (27.4%) abundance of A. variegatum
occurred in Maikunkele ranch. Whereas the species with the least percentage
abundance, H. marginatum recorded its lowest (8.1%) and highest abundance
(8.9%) in Maikunkele and Tayi ranch, respectively. The scrotal and udder regions
of the bulls and cows recorded the largest tick infestation, respectively. The
lowest abundance of tick infestation of bulls (0.1%) and cows (0.7%) were recorded
in the head and neck of the cattle, respectively. The high prevalence rate and
intensity of tick infestation recorded in this research has serious economic
implications since ticks inflict serious pathological effects on both cattle
and humans.
ER -