An Epidemiological Study on Infestation Rate of Ticks in Ruminants of Sargodha Division Pakistan

Authors

  • Mehwish Niazi Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Zunnorain Ahmed Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Naseer Ahmed Department of Livestock and Dairy Development, Government of Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Sadia Hafeez Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Eman Fatima Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Usama Farooq Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Muqaddas Yousaf Department of Biological Sciences, The Superior University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Fatima Khan Department of Public Health, Ulster University Belfast, UK.
  • Imtiaz Ahmed Cheema Rural Poultry Development of Live Stock & Dairy Development Department, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
  • Abdur Rehman Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.546

Keywords:

Ticks, Ruminants, Infestation Rate, Epidemiology, Sargodha Division

Abstract

This study investigated tick infestation rates and their distribution on various body parts of ruminants in Sargodha Division, comprising four districts. Samples were collected from 10 farms per district between February and June 2021. Of the 1,067 ruminants (cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep) observed, 348 (32.10%) were infested. The highest infestation rate was recorded in Mianwali (54.44%), followed by Sargodha (28.92%), Bhakkar (25.69%), and Khushab (24.71%). Among species, cows were the most infested (41.45%), followed by buffaloes (33.73%), sheep (27.38%), and goats (16.41%). Female cows (45.10%) were more infested than males (31%), while male buffaloes (59.37%) showed higher infestation than females (33.58%). Male sheep (34.44%) and goats (29.41%) were also more infested than their female counterparts. In female cows, ticks were predominantly found on the tail (50.42%) and udder (36.75%), while in female buffaloes, the udder (79.77%) and tail (70.78%) were most infested. Male cows and buffaloes had the highest tick distribution on the testicles and dewlap. Ticks were predominantly found in the ears of all infested goats and sheep, regardless of sex. This study highlights that species, sex, and body part preferences significantly influence tick infestation rates. As the first report on tick infestation in Sargodha Division, it provides valuable insights for controlling ticks and related diseases in ruminants, paving the way for future research and management strategies.

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Published

2025-01-23

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Indus Journal of Bioscience Research

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Original Article

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How to Cite

An Epidemiological Study on Infestation Rate of Ticks in Ruminants of Sargodha Division Pakistan. (2025). Indus Journal of Bioscience Research, 3(1), 539-548. https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.546