Abstract
Monthly total body tick collections from 13-20 camels were conducted for 2 consecutive years (2000-2001) in Northern Sudan. Tick populations were correlated with locality, season, predeliction site, sex and coat colour. Hyalomma dromedarii was found to be the predominant (89%) tick species infesting the camels. Other tick species found in very low numbers were Hyalomma impeltatum (7.7%), Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (3.3%), Hyalomma truncatum (0.29%), Hyalomma marginatum rufipes (0.25%), Rhipicephalus praetextatus (0.30%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus group (0.09%). Nymphs of the genus Hyalomma were collected in significant numbers. Adult ticks significantly preferred to attach to the lower parts of the camel's body for feeding while the nymphs preferred the back of the animal. Female camels harboured more ticks than males while higher infestations were recorded on camels with a grey coat colour compared to those with a brown coat colour. Ticks were found on camels throughout the year and increased in numbers during March to October with a peak in September.
Highlights
Little publish information on ticks infesting camels is available
It was found that H. dromedarii females were the main tick species found engorged on the camels, while females of the other species (H. impeltatum, H. a. anatolicum, H. m. rufipes and Rhipicephalus spp.) were not engorged or only partially engorged
Other tick species found in this study in small numbers were H. truncatum, H. m. rufipes, R. sanguineus group and R. praetextatus
Summary
Camels in Egypt were found to be mainly infested by Hyalomma dromedarii (95 %) together with Hyalomma marginatum subspecies, Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum and Hyalomma species nymphs (Van Straten & Jongejan 1993). In the same area and on the same animal species Diab, El Kady & Shouky (2001) reported that H. dromedarii, Hyalomma impeltatum, H. a. About 62 % of adult ticks were collected from the tail, anus, brisket and udder, and 91 % of nymphs were found infesting humps, neck, ears and sides. Anatolicum, H. impeltatum, Hyalomma schulzei, Hyalomma truncatum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and Hyalomma marginatum turanicum as well as 143 Hyalomma spp. nymphs were collected from 10 camels (El Khalifa, Al Asgah & Diab 1985). In the Sudan, Karrar, Kaiser & Hoogstraal (1963) reported that H. dromedarii was the main tick species of camels together with Amblyomma lepidum, H. impeltatum, Rhipi-
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