Association of ticks with seasons, age, and cattle color of North-Western region of Nigeria

Abstract

Ticks harbor pathogens that contribute to the spread of infections in a host; yet, studies aimed at investigating the seasonality in abundance and distribution of ticks on cattle population are very few. We investigated the abundance and site predilection of tick species with the sampling season, sampling site, sex, age, and the cattle color of the North-Western region of Nigeria. We screened 1,264 cattle (564 males and 700 females) from Wamakko, Kware, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Dange-Shuni of Sokoto State, and encountered more Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp than Hyalomma and Amblyomma spp. Tick abundance related significantly (p < 0.05) with sampling seasons while the site predilection of ticks related (p < 0.05) to age and color of cattle. In contrast to the females, the male cattle had more ticks in the dry season. Cattle age, coat color, and sampling seasons influenced the distribution of ticks on a host, however, to assure an accurate evaluation of ticks on a host, other studies should consider studying ticks in these regions using a larger host sample size for a longer period of time or studies should be conducted between host of different species.