Infestation of Zebu cattle (Bos indicus Linnaeus) by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate the infestation of Zebu cattle by ixodid ticks in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of 500 cattle were examined and adult ticks were collected from five different body parts for morphological identification. Our results indicate that 59.8% of cattle were infested with ixodid ticks and the differences in prevalence of tick infestation between study sites, breeds and management systems were significant (p< 0.05). The intensity of tick infestation between study sites and age of cattle were also significantly different (p <0.05). Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus, including the subgenus R. (Boophilus) were the main genera of ixodid ticks identified in the study. Furthermore, the total number of ticks collected shows that A. variegatum (798 ind.; 37.7%) prevailed, followed by R. sanguineus sensu lato (473 ind.; 22.3%), R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (453 ind.; 21.4%) and H. truncatum (395 ind.; 18.6%). The prevalence of mixed infestation (40.6%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of single infestations. Most of the ticks were collected from the perineum (46.2%) and base of tail (39.3%). Amblyomma variegatum was more common at the base of tail (48.0%) while R. sanguineus s.l. (53.9%), R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (48.3%) and H. truncatum (46.8%) were mostly collected from the perineum. Cattle from Gwange had significantly (p < 0.05) higher burden of H. truncatum (4.2 ± 2.8) than those from Gidan madara (1.7 ± 1.1), and had significantly (p < 0.05) higher burden of R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (5.2 ± 4.0) than those from the Abattoir (2.4 ± 1.1) and Gidan madara (1.8 ± 1.1). Our results were discussed in relation to the control of ticks, and epidemiology of the associated tick borne diseases (TBDs) in Maiduguri and environs.