Investigations on Some Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Domestic Buffalo and Cattle from Haryana, India.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the diversity and intensity of hard tick species infesting domestic buffalo and cattle from Haryana, India. A total of 17 collections were performed from 10 allopatric populations during the study period of August 2011 to January 2013. Out of a total number of 662 animals surveyed, 309 animals were found infested with ticks from three different genera of family Ixodidae and a total of 867 ticks were collected and identified. The genera recorded were Hyalomma Koch, 1844, Rhipicephalus Koch, 1844 and Dermacentor Koch, 1844. Tick species identified of the three genera were Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Koch, 1844, Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum Koch, 1844, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (Koch, 1844) and Dermacentor spp. The present study revealed that Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (Boophlilus) microplus are the most common vector species infesting buffalo and cattle in this state. The level of infestation, the seasonal epidemiology of ticks and the associated management practices to adopt are discussed.