Prevalence and Identification of Major Ixodid Tick Genera of Cattle in Dangila District, Awi Zone, North West Ethiopia

A crosssectional study was conducted in Dangila District, Awi zone, from November, 2014 to April, 2015 to estimate the prevalence of major ixodid ticks on cattle and to identify the prevalent ticks to the genera level. Study animals were selected randomly. Out of the total of 384 cattle examined, 216(56.2%) were found to be infested by one or more ticks. About 864 adult ticks were collected from the animal body parts, preserved with70% alcohol and were identified to genera level by using stereo-microscope. From the total ticks collected, four genera’s namely; Amblyomma, Boophilus, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma were identified and account for 37.5, 25.0, 23.1 and 14.4%, respectively. From different variables (sex, age, breed and body condition), only body condition was statistically significant with tick infestation (p< 0.05). The prevalence of tick infestation was was found highest in poor body condition animals (62.9%) while in medium and good body condition, it was found (59.4%) and (41.2%), respectively. In logistic regression analysis only body condition has shown statistical significance. The odd of the infestation in poor body condition was 2.4 times higher than in good body condition animals. It has also been evident that the favorable predilection sites of Amblyomma tick were ventral body parts and perineum region. Boophilus preferred dewlap, udder/scrotum, belly, leg, head and perineum. Rhipicephalus had a strong affinity for perineum, dewlap, udder/scrotum, tail tips and ears. For Hyalomma the perineum region, udder/scrotum and under tail were its hiding sites. From this study we can make a conclusion that the prevalent ticks could also be responsible for transmission of tick borne diseases in addition to their physical damage to the skin. Therefore, further studies should be carried out on tick burden and tick borne diseases.