A Cross Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Identification of Major Ixodid Tick Parasites of Cattle in Gondar Town, North West Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2015 to April, 2016 in Gondar town with the objective to estimate the prevalence of ticks, to investigate their genera and assessing association with the different risk factors such as breed, sex, age, body condition scores, and management system. Adult ticks were collected from 384 cattle from local and cross-breed cattle. Out of the total of 384 cattle examined, 287(74.7%) were found to be infested by one or more genera of tick parasites. A total of 919 adult ticks, which belongs to four genera of ticks were collected and identified using stereomicroscopy. I n this study Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Amblyomma, and Boophilus were identified as 27%, 26%, 25.3%, and 21.7% respectively. The prevalence of male and female animals was found to be 136 (68%) and 151 (82.06%) respectively. According to their management variation animals kept in extensive and intensive farming system were infested with 207 (76.1%) and 80 (71.4%) respectively. T he prevalence in local and cross breed was 180 (77.58%) and 107 (70.39%) respectively. T he prevalence in young and adult animals was found to be 104 (72.3%) and 183 (76.25%) respectively. Based on their body condition score of animals, poor 176 (75.8%), medium 71 (80.68%) and good body condition 40 (62.5%). I n this study there was statistically significant association of infestation rate with the sex of the animals (P<0.05) and x2=10.042. Special attention should be given to the control and prevention of ticks.