Distribution of ticks (Acari: Ixodida) infesting domestic ruminants in Ghana

Abstract

AbstractNineteen sites throughout Ghana were selected as representative of the three major zones of natural vegetation. At these sites, samples of ticks were collected from groups of approximately five each of cattle, sheep and goats. Ticks were identified by light microscopy. In order of abundance, tick species found on livestock were:Amblyomma variegatum(Fabricius),Boophilus decoloratus(Koch),Rhipicephalus senegalensisKoch,Boophilus annulatus(Say), Hyalomma marginatum rufipesKoch, aRhipicephalusspecies in thesanguineusgroup of uncertain identity close to bothR. turanicusPomerantsev andR. sulcatusNeumann,Boophilus geigyiAeschlimann & Morel, Hyalomma truncatumKoch, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsiNeumann andRhipicephalus lunulatusNeumann.Amblyomma variegatumwas found on every sample of the sheep, goats and cattle examined and was equally abundant in all vegetation zones.Boophilusspecies were found mainly on cattle, with some on sheep and were widely distributed by vegetation zone.Hyalommaspecies were found predominantly on cattle and widely distributed by vegetation zone.Rhipicephalus e. evertsiandR. senegalensiswere found on sheep and cattle in all vegetation zones. The tick fauna of Ghana is similar to those of other West African countries and this shows that control strategies developed in neighbouring countries can be applied to Ghana. The significance of this tick fauna is discussed in relation to potential for pathogen transmission.