Cattle and buffaloes tick's infestation in Wasit province districts , Iraq

Abstract

Cattle and buffaloes tick's infestation prevalence were investigated in 4 districts of Wasit province, Iraq during 2012. Out of 164 animals, 63 cattle & 6 buffaloes were infested. Overall prevalence of cattle ticks infestation 91.3% was higher than that of buffaloes 8.7% with significant value P-Value ≤ 0.002. There was no significant difference P-Value ≥ 0.102 between total prevalence of ticks genera Rhipicephalus 48%, Hyalomma 38% and 14% Boophilus and infested cattle & buffaloes (with exception of Boophilus); beside there was no significant difference P-Value ≥ 0.143 between the infested animals in the different 4 districts ; although infestation was highest in Sewara and lowest in Zubydia districts. There was significant differences between the distribution of tick genera and the infested animals among research's months P-Value ≤ 0.002, 0.009 respectively; the infestation rates were highest in July and lowest in May. 12 species and subspecies of the 3 genera ticks were identified in favor of Hyalomma in this study.