Probability of Ticks Infestation in Goats Sold in Okitipupa Main Market, In Southern Part of Ondo State

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VII, Issue V, May 2022 | ISSN 2454–6194

Probability of Ticks Infestation in Goats Sold in Okitipupa Main Market, In Southern Part of Ondo State

Bagbe, A. S^1*, Bagbe, A.¹, Arosoye, A. S.¹ and Owolabi, D. O.²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa. Ondo State, Nigeria

²Department of Mathematical Sciences, Statistics unit, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria

*Correspondence

Abstract: Ticks are the most important ectoparasites of livestock in tropical and sub-tropical areas. They are responsible for severe economic losses both through direct effects of blood sucking and indirectly as vectors of pathogens and toxins. Feeding by large numbers of ticks causes reduction in live weight gain and anaemia among domestic animals. An epidemiological study was carried out on ticks of goat in Okitipupa main market in Southern part of Ondo State from September, 2021 to November, 2021. Goats were sampled randomly. Collected ticks species were preserved in 70% ethanol to be counted and morphologically identified to the species level. A total of eighty (80) goats were examined, thirty-five (35) of the goats examined were infested out of which (20) female and (15) male were infested. One hundred and eleven (111) species which were largely Amblyomma variegatum, the most predominant hard tick species was identified. The main attachment/predilection sites of tick detected were head (33), neck (9), back (13), abdomen (39) and leg (17) which is significant to the tick infestation. The infestation rate of tick was insignificantly different between sex, female (46.5%) and male (40.5%). Therefore, to reduce high prevalence of tick, proper and planned control measure by creating awareness about the importance and control of ectoparasites for farmers is needed.

Key words: Prevalence, Tick, Predilection, Ectoparasites, Infestation, Goat

I. INTRODUCTION

Ticks are ectoparasites of ruminants and other domestics and wild animals living by haematophagy on blood causing skin irritation and anemia (Wilson, 1990). Ticks are among the most difficult ectoparasites of domestic animals to control (Walker et al., 2007). Ticks are also one of the major vectors of pathogens, such as Bebesiosis, theileria, anaplasmosis Dermatophilosis and so on to animals in the world (Soulsby, 1982; Morel, 1989).

Read More