EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SPREAD OF TICKS AND HORSEFLIES IN CATTLE FARMS IN THE CITY OF SAMARRA

Authors

Athraa Hamid Jasim Al-Rahmani Department of Biology, College of Education for Women, Tikrit University, Iraq
Ashraf Jamal Mahmmoud Department of Biology, College of Education for Women, Tikrit University, Iraq
Fouad Ahmed Abdulla Department of Biology, College of Education, Samarra University, Iraq .

Keywords:

Hyalomma, H. rufipes, Tabanus, Flies

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Ticks and Horseflies on cattle in the Samarra district and its surrounding areas from October 2022 to October 2023. A total of 2,310 cattle was examined, with 1,487 found to be infested with ticks, representing an infestation rate of 64.372%. In contrast, 732 cattle were infested with horseflies, representing an infestation rate of 7.17%. The highest tick infestation rate was recorded in July at 100%, followed by August, September, June, and May, with rates of 90%, 84%, and declining with the decrease in temperatures entering October, November, December, and January, where the infestation rates dropped to 24.70%, 13.23%, 11.17%, and 9.25%, respectively. The results showed that the percentage of horsefly infestations over the months of the year was relatively low, with horseflies observed on the bodies of some cattle from which tick samples were isolated. The highest infestation rate was recorded in August at 3%, followed by May at 2.85%, and the lowest rate was recorded in October at 1.32%. The results indicated a higher infestation rate of hard ticks and horseflies in female cattle compared to males, with female cattle having a tick infestation rate of 68.001%, while the male infestation rate was 36.121%. The study also showed that the horsefly infestation rate in female cattle was 0.781%, compared to 0.760% in males. Additionally, the current study identified two genera of hard ticks, Hyalomma, which included species such as H. excavatum, H. anatolicum, and H. scupense. For the first time in Samarra, the species H. impeltatum, H. impressum, and H. rufipes were also identified. The genus Rhipicephalus was also identified, including the species Rh. sanguineus, which was recorded for the first time in Samarra and some surrounding areas.

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Published

2024-09-11

How to Cite

Athraa Hamid Jasim Al-Rahmani, Ashraf Jamal Mahmmoud, & Fouad Ahmed Abdulla. (2024). EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SPREAD OF TICKS AND HORSEFLIES IN CATTLE FARMS IN THE CITY OF SAMARRA. European Journal of Research Development and Sustainability, 5(9), 1-11. Retrieved from https://scholarzest.com/index.php/ejrds/article/view/4750