Journal of
Parasitology and Vector Biology

  • Abbreviation: J. Parasitol. Vector Biol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2510
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPVB
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 204

Full Length Research Paper

Hard Ticks of Camel in Southern Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Semere Kiros
  • Semere Kiros
  • Raya Azebo District Veterinary Clinic, Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia.
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Nesibu Awol
  • Nesibu Awol
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
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Yisehak Tsegaye
  • Yisehak Tsegaye
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
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Birhanu Hadush
  • Birhanu Hadush
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
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  •  Received: 13 July 2014
  •  Accepted: 08 September 2014
  •  Published: 31 October 2014

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Raya Azebo district with the objective of determining the prevalence and species diversity of hard ticks encountered in camels. During the study period, a total of 384 camels were examined and 96.6% of them were found infested with ticks. A total of 15,723 ticks were collected from half body regions of infected camels during the study period. The average tick burden from half body region of camels was 42.4 ± 19.63. In this study four genera and ten species of hard ticks were identified. The genera identified were Amblyomma (11.11%), Boophilus (1.8%), Hyalomma (23.32%) and Rhipicephalus (61.77%). The tick species identified during the study period were Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus decolaratus, Amblyomma cohaerence, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus pulchelis, Amblyomma gemma, Amblyomma lepidum, Hyalomma rufipes, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma truncatum at a prevalence of 22.9, 16.7, 23.2, 41.5, 92.7, 7.8, 3.4, 47.4, 42.7 and 8.9%, respectively. Further study and appropriate control measures are recommended to improve the health and productivity of camel.

Key words: Amblyomma, Boophilus, camel, ectoparasite, Hyalomma, Raya Azebo, Rhipicephalus, tick.