Abstract

PREVALENCE OF TICK INFESTATION IN DROMEDARY CAMELS (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) BROUGHT FOR SLAUGHTER IN MANDEEQ ABATTOIR, HARGEISA SOMALIA

Hamza. H. Sead*, A/Rahman.S.Gulled, Sead.A.Rabbi, A/Risak.A.Abdilahi, A/Nazir.Barre&Mahad

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study aimed to identify available tick species, determine the distribution sites of ticks in camel. Since February 2019 through March 2019, a total of 320 camels were examined for tick infestation. Out of the total 320 camels examined, 300 were infested. During the period, a total of 300 adult ticks (Ixodidae) were collected from different sites of 300 indigenous Camel. Out of the total tick count, 210were males and 90 were females. Seven species of ticks that belong to three genera (Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma) were found. The ticks were collected from the infested camels and identified by stereomicroscopy. Hyalommatruncatum was the predominant tick species and comprised 56.7 % of the collected ticks. The frequency of other species was as follows: A. variegatum(21 %), A. gemma(5.7 %), Rhipicephalus pulchellus(5.3 %), R.pravus(4.7 %), H. rufipes(4.3 %), H. anatolicum(2.3 %). Limited scope of awareness regarding the impact of ticks, lack of adequate veterinary infrastructures and absence of tick control strategy are the major factors accountable for the widespread existence of tick species in the area. For that reason, educating pastoral society on appropriate animal husbandry especially regarding to tick control and creating awareness on tick epidemiology would be imperative to minimize the effect of ticks and ultimately to improve the living standards of the pastoral society.

Keywords: Tick, Infestation, Camel, Hargeisa, Somalia.