Diversity and Epidemiological Study of Hard Ticks Infesting Goats and Sheep of Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Diversity and Epidemiological Study of Hard Ticks Infesting Goats and Sheep of Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Hidayat Ullah1, Sadia Tabassum1, Sultan Ayaz2, Shumaila Noreen1, Atta Ur Rehman1, Naveed Akhtar3, Muhsin Ali3, Zaib Ullah3* and Sajid Mahmood1,4
ABSTRACT
Ticks are the haematophagous arthropods; their prevalence in various areas of Pakistan is associated with huge economic and health losses. In this perspective 6469 tick specimens were collected from goats and sheep breeds of the Hazara Division and identified into seven species on morphometrics basis, in which four species were recorded new to this area. Out of identified seven species, four tick species Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis bispinosa were identified from goats and three species Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum, Rhipicephalus microplus from sheep. Goat breed wise infestation rate was recorded in Kaghani, Kamori, Sindhi, Lehri, Barbari, Beetal and Dera Din Panah. In sheep breeds infestation rate was recorded in Gauder, Balkhi Afghani and Rambouillet. On basis of ITS2 gene and 16SrRNA phylogenetic analysis of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Rhipicephalus microplus showed similarity with already reported species in neighbor countries of study area. Number of tick specimens and infestation rate shows direct correlation with temperature but it shows fluctuation with humidity. Current study will be helpful in tick’s controlling strategies, goats and sheep breed selection and future research in this area.
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