Abstract

We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of hard ticks, their predilection sites and relation to breed, sex, and age group of animals. Cattle coming to clinic from different localities found in Haramaya district were selected by systematic random sampling technique and then examined for tick infestation. A total of 560 animals were examined of which 186 (33.21%) were found infested with one or more ticks. Among the total, 1446 ticks collected three genera; Amblyomma, Boophilus, andRhipicephalus, and five species identified. The relative prevalence of each species wasAmblyomma variegatum (38.87%), Amblyomma coherence (8.30%), Boophilus decoloratus (31.54%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (6.64%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (14.66%). A. variegatum and A. coherence show higher preference to axial, scrotum/udder, groin and belly. B. decoloratus species were found prominently on the back and neck. R. evertsi evertsi and R. pulchelus showed high preference to the under tail and perianal and vulva regions of the body. The male to female sex ration of the collected ticks was found to 1.96:1, showing higher proportion of male than their counterparts. The prevalence of tick infestation was found significantly higher (P < 0.05) in local breed cattle (58.18%) than cross breed ones (10.55%), whereas no statistically significant association was observed among age groups, between sex groups and different localities (P > 0.05).

Key words: Haramaya, cattle, infestation, Ixodide ticks.