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Study on the Ixodid ticks species diversity (Acari: Ixodidae) on domestic ruminants in different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu

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Abstract

A survey of Ixodid tick species diversity on domestic ruminants was conducted in seven agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu State, India. Tick surveys were conducted on domestic ruminants such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat in seven districts of Tamil Nadu. The overall tick infestation was 38.8%, 5.8%, 14.6%, and 40.8% on cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, respectively. A total of 8068 ticks from 18 species belonging to four genera were recorded. Overall, Haemaphysalis intermedia was the predominant (51.38%) tick species which has a wide host range. The most prevalent tick species in cattle and buffalo were Rhipicephalus (B.) microplus (25.41%) and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (56.69%), respectively. Haemaphysalis intermedia was the most prevalent in ticks in sheep (70.35%), goat (70.35%), and dog (55.79%). In the present study, local anomalies such as the ectromely of one leg and the absence of adanal plates were observed in Rh. haemaphysaloides. The study also found that local anomaly such as protuberances in the hind tarsal and atrophy of the adanal plate was observed in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. In addition, a general anomaly with three atrophy caudal appendages was also observed in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The overall prevalence of anomalies in Rh. haemaphysaloides and Rh. (B.) microplus was 0.3% (3/971) and 0.4% (3/678), respectively.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We really appreciate the great help provided by Mr. B. Tilakar and Mrs. J. Hemalatha, laboratory technicians, in the painstaking collection of tick samples from domestic animals. Their dedicated assistance has been key to the outcome of the study.

Funding

The project is funded through the internal funds of the ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Vector Biology and Control, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, ICMR-Vector Control Research CentreGOIIndira Nagar, Medical Complex, Puducherry, 605 006, India

    Ayyanar Elango & Ananganallur Nagarajan Shriram

  2. Climate Change, GIS and VBD Stratification/Mapping, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, ICMR-Vector Control Research CentreGOIIndira Nagar, Medical Complex, Puducherry, 605 006, India

    Hari Kishan Raju

  3. Department of Health Research, ICMR-Vector Control Research CentreGOIIndira Nagar, Ministry of Health& Family Welfare, Medical Complex, Puducherry, 605 006, India

    Ashwani Kumar

  4. Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 605102, Chennai, India

    Ashwani Kumar

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  1. Ayyanar Elango
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Contributions

Conceptualization, A.E., A.N.S.; methodology, A.E.; validation and analysis, A.E., H.K.R.; writing original draft preparation, A.E., A.N.S.; review and editing, A.K., A.N.S.; supervision, A.K, A.N.S.; project administration, A.K.

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Correspondence to Ayyanar Elango.

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Ethics statement: Institute animal ethical committee (ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry) approval was obtained (ICMR-VCRC/IAEC/2020/1). Tick collections were carried out according to the guidelines of the Animal Ethics Committee.

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Elango, A., Shriram, A.N., Raju, H.K. et al. Study on the Ixodid ticks species diversity (Acari: Ixodidae) on domestic ruminants in different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 73 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03912-4

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