SURVEY OF TICK SPECIES INFESTING THE ONE HUMPED CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Biu, A. A. and konto, M

Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail:  biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A survey study of ticks of the one humped camel was conducted in Borno State, Nigeria between March and August 2007. Out of the 1054 ticks collected from 96 camels Hyalomma dromedarii had 928 (88.1%); Boophilus decoloratus 114 (10.8%); Amblyomma variegatum 9 (2.9%), while Rhipicephalus evertsi had 3 (0.3%) prevalence rates (p<0.05). Tick species had the highest preference for the perineum 82 (85.4%) with a tick burden of 354 and least preferred the abdominal flanks with 3(3.1%) with tick burden of 13, the scrotum 3(3%) with a tick burden of 13 and the hump 3(3.1%) with a tick burden of 5(p<0.05). Tick infestation was highest on camels aged between  3 and 8 years with 52 (54.2%) and least be 8(8.3%) between 15 and 19 years, while female camels were more infested  63(65.6%) than the male with 33 (34.4%) (p<0.05).

Keywords: – Survey, ticks, camels, Borno, Nigeria.