Preliminary survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in Central Equatoria State, Southern Sudan

Salih, D.A.; Julla, I.I.; Hassan, S.M.; El Hussein, A.M.; Jongejan, F.

Preliminary survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in Central Equatoria State, Southern Sudan

2008

Salih, D.A.(Central Veterinary Research Laboratories) | Julla, I.I.(University of Bahr El Ghazal College of Veterinary Science) | Hassan, S.M.(University of Khartoum Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Parasitology) | El Hussein, A.M.(Central Veterinary Research Laboratories) | Jongejan, F.(Utrecht University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology,University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases,)

In a preliminary survey conducted in 2005, the species composition and seasonality of ticks infesting cattle in Central Equatoria State, Southern Sudan was determined. Three locations were selected (Gumbo, Khor Rumla and Nyaing) and surveyed every 3 months. Two cattle herds in each of the three locations were visited four times during the study period. Total body collections of ticks were made from each of five cattle (Nilotic Zebu breed) kept in six different herds. Four tick genera and ten species were identified. The tick species identified were Amblyomma lepidum, Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus annulatus, Boophilus decoloratus, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus praetextatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus group. The highest number of ticks was collected in October during the rainy season. A finding of great significance was that R. appendiculatus, vector of East Coast fever, has now firmly established itself throughout the year with possible implications for cattle production in Central Equatoria State.

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