ABSTRACT
Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites infesting wilds and domestic animals as well as humans, and are considered after mosquitoes to be the principal vectors for the transmission of various pathogens. Despite all these, studies aimed at investigating the infestation of said acari are relatively little, particularly at the South-Southern part of the country. The aim of the present study was to determine their species composition, and predilection sites as well as their relative frequency, infestation abundance and intensity of infestation amongst cattle in the cattle market located at Federal Road, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State Benin City. In the present study, a total of 1150 ticks were collected from 95 cattle and identified to their species level using valid identification keys. Two life stages: adults 1150 (91.74 ± 0.3%), and nymphs (8%), four genera: Boophilus (93.9 ± 0.3%), Amblyomma (3.3%), Rhipicephalus (2.3%), Haemaphysalis (0.2%) and eleven species of ticks: Boophilus annulatus (42.0%), Boophilus decoloratus (31.8%), Boophilus geigyi (20.0%), Amblyomma variegatum (3.0%), Rhipicephalus lunulatus (1.4%), Amblyomma coharens (0.4%), Rhipicephalus guilhoni (0.3%), Rhipicephalus muhsame (0.3%) Haemaphysalis leachi (0.2%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.1%), and Rhipicephalus senegalensis (0.1%) were found. The overall prevalence of infestation was 78.95%. The most infested sites of attachment were legs (36.35%), the dorsal side (34.17%), and the tail (29.48%) The species with the highest and lowest mean intensity were Boophilus annulatus (8.1) and Rhipicephalus sengalensis (0.3) respectively. This result will permit to improve the knowledge on the species composition, and predilection sites of ticks present in the study area and may also help to build up a good control strategy for ticks.
