Scientific Publication

Population dynamics of ticks infesting sheep in the arid steppes of Tunisia

author(s) Elati, Khawla - Allah Ayadi, Ayet - Khbou, Mediha Khamassi - Jedidi, Mohamed - Rekik, Mourad - Gharbi, Mohamed
from International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
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  • Northern Africa
  • Africa
  • World
citation

Khawla Elati, Ayet Allah Ayadi, Mediha Khamassi Khbou, Mohamed Jedidi, Mourad Rekik, Mohamed Gharbi. (Accepted on 29/8/2018). Population dynamics of ticks infesting sheep in the arid steppes of Tunisia. Revue d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine tick population dynamics infesting sheep in Gafsa
region (Central Tunisia). Ticks were collected monthly over a year, from October 2013 to September 2014, from 57–64 randomly-included Barbarine-breed
sheep. In total, 560 ticks were collected and identified. They belonged to two
species: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (98.6%) and Hyalomma excavatum (1.4%). Sheep were only infested from April to October with a maximum
infestation prevalence (number of infested animals / number of examined animals) in August for R. sanguineus s.l. (83%), and in May for H. excavatum (7%).
The highest infestation intensity (number of ticks / number of infested sheep) was
3.7 ticks per animal in August. These results should help sheep owners and veterinarians to implement efficient control programs against ticks and the pathogens they transmit

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