Epidemiology and seasonal variation of ixodid ticks in dairy cattle of gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, India

The Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh is fertile land inhabited by second highest cattle population in India. A study was undertaken from May 2016 to March 2018 on the distribution and abundance of ticks in cattle.

Data was collected from 3 organized farms, 5 Gaushalas and from local farmers. Studied animals were divided into three categories indigenous breeds (n=450), exotic (n=60) and crosses of exotic and local breeds (n=140). The prevalence of tick infestation was studied in the host cattle in the different seasons.

Total eight species of ticks were identified. Among the Ixodid ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was the predominant species (85.28%) in all seasons. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher prevalence was recorded in monsoon season as compared to other seasons. Animals aged 1 year of age (50.87%). Sex-wise, the males had higher infestation rate than the females. In the villages, Gaushalas and in unorganized dairy farms tick infestation prevalence was (45%) as compared to minimal prevalence 4% recorded from organized sector. Infestation in exotic cattle was high in fields as compared to crossbred and indigenous cattle breed. Most of the animals under farm management system were infected with single tick species. While multi species tick infestation was observed in the fields. This could be due to the management practices and timely tick treatment adopted by farms.