Identification of Hard Tick Species Affecting Camels (Camelus Dromedarius) and Their Seasonal Abundance in Najran , Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

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Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resource King Faisal University, B.P 1757, 31982 Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A study was conducted to identify the species of ticks infesting camels (Camelus dromedarius) and their seasonal population dynamics in Najran, South Saudi Arabia. Collection and identification of the ticks were undertaken at 1 year period from January 2005to December 2005. On each occasion, all the visible ticks were collected from the body of each camel and the surrounding ground. The most abundant species of ticks found on the camels at the study areas were Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, H. a. excavatum, H. dromedari, H. impeltatum, H. schulzei, H. erythraeum, H. marginatum rufipes, H. truncatum, Amblyomma t. gemaand  A. t. varigatum. The average tick load per camel was higher during rainy months (more than 40 ticks) than during dry months (less than 15 ticks). The study concluded that a strategy should intended to control the tick infestation of camels in Najran and it should take into account the identified tick species and their seasonal abundance.

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