Prevalence and Taxonomic Identification of Tick Species Infesting Goats and the Influence of Abiotic Factors on Host Parasite Interactions in District Sanghar, Pakistan : Taxonomic Identification of Tick Species Infesting Goats and Host Parasite Interaction

Rafique Ahmed Khan; Zainab Lanjar; Hina Ali Ahmed; Shahzeb Arain; Shakeel Ahmed Muhammad Shahi; Ambreen Leghari; Muhammad Bilawal Arain; Saba Gul Khurh Khuhro; Sohaib Sikhani; Abdullah Arijo

doi:10.54393/mjz.v7i1.208

Authors

Rafique Ahmed Khan Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Zainab Lanjar Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Pakistan
Hina Ali Ahmed Department of Zoology, Sardar Bhadur Khan Women University, Balochistan, Pakistan
Shahzeb Arain Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Shakeel Ahmed Muhammad Shahi Department of Livestock Dairy Development, Government of Balochistan, Pakistan
Ambreen Leghari Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilawal Arain Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Saba Gul Khurh Khuhro Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Sohaib Sikhani Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Abdullah Arijo Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/mjz.v7i1.208

Keywords:

Abiotic, Goat, Host-Parasite, Taxonomic Identification, Tick-Infestation

Abstract

Goats are an important livestock component of the agricultural sector globally. Ticks are the most significant ectoparasites of domesticated animals in tropical and subtropical regions that affect public health, animal health, decrease weight gain, milk production, and livestock economy. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of tick infestation, taxonomic identification, and to observe the impact of abiotic factors on the host-parasite relationship. Results: The highest prevalence was recorded in the Bar Khan Jatoi (66.67%), and the lowest was in Jhool (33.33%). The infestation rate was higher in females as compared to males, with 50.98% and 32.11%, respectively. The prevalence percentage in < 6 Months, 6 to 24 Months, and C >24 Months was 42.22, 46.57, and 43.13%, respectively. Goats reared in cottage-type housing showed higher infestation (55.71%) than those in open housing (30.00%). The lowest prevalence was in December with 29.33%, and the highest was in March, 60.67%. The humidity in January was 50%, and 52% tick infestation and in the month of March, by 20%, and the tick infestation by 32%. The prevalence percentage of Hyalomma tick infestation was higher, while Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma were recorded as 43.00%, 29.50%, and 27.50%, respectively. Conclusion: The highest prevalence was recorded in the Bag Khan Jatoi, while Hyalomma, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus were prevalent. Young animals reared in cottage-type housing in March, as compared to December, were most susceptible to the burden of tick infestation.

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