Prevalence rate of Ixodid ticks in equids and some nearby farm animals in Erbil governorate, north of Iraq

Abstract EN

This survey was done to find out an infestation rate of ixodidae ticks in equids and some nearby farm animals in Erbil Governorate during April 2016 to March 2017.

The overall prevalence rate of ixodide ticks on equine was 20.5%.

Boophilus annulatus was the most common tick species infesting equine at rate of 39.8% with significant differences at (P<0.05).

In cattle and sheep, the total infestation rate was 17.4% and 31.4% respectively, and Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was the most common tick species infesting cattle with 37.3%.

In sheep, Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum was the most common species with a rate of 34% with significant differences at (P<0.05).

In dogs, the infestation rate was 10.3%, and Rhipocephalus sanguineus was only found to be the most common species infesting dogs and goats with 100% and 46.9%, respectively with significant differences at (P<0.05).

In goats, Rhipocephalus turanicus was found to be the most common species with a rate of 22.4%.

Rhipocephalus sanguineus were the predominant tick reported in Erbil governorate with 29.1%, while Boophilus microplus was only detected in equine at the first time in Erbil, with a total rate of infestation 16.3%.

The occurrences of the tick’s species and their monthly frequency according to the reported total infestation rates revealed to be at the beginning of March and disappeared in November.

This study also revealed location to location differences within the infestation rates of the ticks in Erbil Governorate, where the highest rate at (21.4%) was reported in North zone which was significantly higher compared with the lowest rate (17.4%) in West zone at (P>0.05).