Agricultura (Jun 2019)

FIRST STUDY ON THE COMPOSITION SPECIES OF TICK (IXODIDAE) INFESTING HORSES IN ALGERIA

  • Mokhtaria Kouidri,
  • Sidi Mohamed Ammar Selles,
  • Zine Al-Abidine Kouider

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15835/agrisp.v109i1-2.13260
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 109, no. 1-2
pp. 215 – 218

Abstract

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The importance of ticks does not lie only in their direct effects (blood loss, skin lesions, weakness), but even more in their role as vectors of pathogens. This survey was carried out in order to investigate for the first time the species composition of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting horses in Tiaret (Ageria). 85 ticks were collected from 30 horses. The ticks belonged to two genera, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus.The genus Hyalomma was predominant with 86% (73/85). Rhipicehalus recorded only 14% (12/85). Among the genus Hyalomma, H. marginatum showed 40% (34/85), followed by H. lusitanicum with 38% (32/85), H. excavatum with 7 % (6/85) and finally H. impeltatum with 1% ( 1/85). For the genus Rhipicephalus, the only specie detected was R. bursa with 14% (12/85). The mean number of ticks per animal was 2,83. This study can participate in initiating the first data to constitute an inventory of the species of ticks found in horses in Algeria. In addition, the tick species encountered can play a role in the transmission of pathogens in horses and therefore prevention measures should be considered to reduce their population.

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