Population dynamics of cattle ticks in Gharb Region in Morocco

Abstract

This study was conducted in the rural town of Sidi Boubker El Haj in Gharb Region, Morocco, from November 2009 to October 2010. The objective was to identify the various tick species collected on cattle, to monitor their seasonal dynam­ics and determine their abundance and infestation variability according to the age and sex of the hosts. Thirty cattle head were monitored and sampled monthly for a year. A total of 6899 ticks were collected. Identification revealed nine species belonging to five genera with the following prevalence: Rhi­picephalus bursa 28.61%, Ixodes ricinus 26.39%, Hyalomma lusitanicum 23.33%, Rhipicephalus turanicus 14.44%, Hya­lomma detritum detritum 13.06%, Rhipicephalus sanguineus 1.39%, Hyalomma marginatum marginatum 1.11%, Derma­centor marginatus 1.11% and Haemaphysalis sulcata 0.83%. I. ricinus was active in winter, R. bursa, Hyalomma lusitanicum and R. turanicus in spring, and Hyalomma d. detritum in sum­mer. R. sanguineus, Hyalomma m. marginatum, D. margina­tus and Haemaphysalis sulcata were less prevalent and their presence on cattle may be referred to as occasional parasitism. This study on tick population dynamics may help implement a strategy for tick control and tick-transmitted disease control, taking into account the parasite seasonal activity, parasitic loads, and infestation rates.