A Survey of Ticks Infestation on Some Domestic Animals in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Infestation of domestic animals with ticks constitutes both a major health and economic problem in livestock production. The study was conducted to identify the species of ticks infesting domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats in Mubi cattle market, Adamawa State. Ten (10) each of cattle, sheep and goat were randomly selected at Mubi Cattle Market at every collection date, and were examined for tick infestation. Ticks were collected from different predilection sites. Ticks collected were transferred to Safe-Lock Eppendorf tubes containing 70% ethanol. The specimens were identified to species level using hand lens and dissecting microscope. A total of 232 adult ticks (17 male, 215 females) were collected. 8 species of ticks were identified across three genera namely Ripicephalus microplus (79.74%) was the most prevalent, followed by Ripicephalus decoloratus (9.05%), Amblyomma variegatum (4.31%), Rhipicephalus simus (3.02%), Hyalomma dromedarii (2.16%), Amblyomma habraeum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (0.86%), respectively, and the least was Hyalomma truncatum (0.43%). Cattle were the most heavily infested (44.8%), followed by sheep (33.6%) and goat (21.6%). The study revealed that livestock in Mubi were infested by varieties of ticks especially Ripicephalus microplus which was the highest and found on all the animals examined.