Experimental infection of native chicken with cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)‎ annulatus (Acari : Ixodidae)‎

Abstract EN

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus is considered as one of the most widespread tick species of the world on several host including cattle.

The current study has been conducted to evaluated infestation ability of larval R.

annulatus on chicken growth and development, Indicated very few larvae quested or fed on indigenous adult chickens when comparison with the number of larvae which used in this study, and that the larval and nymph feeding period of these ticks was very long.

The number of larvae feeding shows in hollows wings, while the number of feeding nymph investigate on head, wings and above of thigh, both larvae and nymph described on the same individual adult chicken, the engorged adult female not observed while the adult male notice on chickens.

Designated the weight of feeding larvae and nymphs stage is 0.32±0.04 mg and nymph’s 2.73±1.22 mg.

The weight of larvae and nymph stage under mattress and feeder’s chicken 0.27±0.21 and 2.52±1.75 mg respectively, shows not significantly when compared between the weight of feeding on chickens and the weight under mattress and feeder’s chicken by larvae and nymphs stage at (P < 0.05) values according chi-square.

Experimental study shows not transmissions pathogens from incubating larvae, which got from engorged female infested with Babesia spp., to adult chickens when examined their blood by Giemsa stain.