Study of Prevalence of tick Hyalomma excavatum (Acari: Ixodidae) on Bubalus bubalis in Patan District, Gujarat state, India

Abstract

The domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) primitively domesticated in Asia for milk and meat purpose but their health is highly compromised due to the infestation by ectoparasites so affected via vector borne disease agents. The present work was carried out to study prevalence of common tick Hyalomma excavatum parasitizing B. Bubalis population in Patan district, Gujarat state, India. The study was carried out from August 2019 to March 2020. In the present study, a total of 1595 B. bubalis (712 males, 883 females) were examined out of which 489 (30.66%) B. bubalis were tick infected while 1106 (69.34%) were free of tick. Infection rate was very high in the females (28.15%) host individuals as compared to males (2.51%). Adult individual hosts showed high rate of infection as compared to sub adults and calves. Maximum infection of H. excavatum was observed around udders and anus in female and male individuals respectively. Present study reveals vital epidemiological information of H. excavatum infection on B. bubalis population in Patan district which will be helpful in designing control and management policy for tick infestation.