Farzana Perveen

Ixodid Tick Infestation in Livestock and Traditional Control in Pakistan: Tick Infestation and Traditional Control in Northern Pakistan Farzana Perveen

Infestation and identification of prevalent genera of Ixodid ticks in farm animals and traditional control at two districts of Northern Pakistan were studied. Data was collected from field/farm visited and interviewing farmers. Identification of Ixidid ticks was carried out in Department of Zoology. A total of 992 animals including 435 buffaloes, 315 cattle, 147 goats, 38 camels, 33 sheep, and 24 donkeys were studied. The animals, in order of decreasing susceptibility and infestation rate, were: 35.87%(cows)> 28.9% (camel)> 27.3% (sheep)> 24.13% (buffalo)> 23.13% (goat)> 4.2% (donkey). The order of prevalent of three genera was: Hyalomma>Boophilus>Amblyoma found in the study areas. Out of 3009 collected Ixodid ticks, 1255 (41.7%) were male and 1754 (58.3%) were female ticks. An emerging traditional remedy (23.3%) for ticks' elimination is poultry keeping. The good management practices, education and awareness of the livestock holders is the prime importance in reducing ticks infestation in animals. The farmers that once were crazy to use chemical acaricides are reverting back to ethno-veterinary remedies.