Kinetics of tick infestation in cattle in subhumid Constantine region in Algeria

Abstract

A study was conducted from May 2008 to April 2009 to monitor monthly the tick infestation of cattle in two farms in Constantine region (subhumid area of Algeria), located at 500 and 1000 m of altitude, respectively. Out of forty monitored cattle (20 per farm), 2031 ticks were collected from different anatomical sites (perineum, udder, scrotum, ears, among others). Seven tick species from four genera were identified: Rhipicephalus bursa (48.5%), ticks of R. sanguineus group (26.6%), Hyalomma marginatum (11%), Haemaphysalis punctata (5.7%), Hy. lusitanicum (3.9%), Hy. scupense (2.7%), and Ixodes ricinus (1.5%). The predominance of R. bursa on the one hand and the absence of Hy. scupense at 1000 m altitude on the other hand were noted. Furthermore, the influences of altitude and age were analyzed and tick location on the animals was recorded. The study of seasonal infestation dynamics showed that vector control, in case of heavy infestations, should be mainly applied during the warm period (May to August), corresponding to the peak of abundance of R. bursa and H. scupense, the main species responsible for the transmission of piroplasmoses in cattle, including babesioses and tropical theileriosis.