ASSESSMENT OF TICK’S INFESTATION ON SMALL RUMINANTS PRODUCTION IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study was conducted from 15th April to 31st July 2019 in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria; with the aim of determining the types, prevalence and intensity of ticks infestation in small ruminants production and identifying the major risk factors. Clinical examination and laboratory analysis were made on 160 sheep and 160 goats. The collected raw data were analyzed using software package SAS (Version 2010). Out of 320 sampled animals 67.2% (215/320×100) were found to be infested with one or more of tick species. The prevalence ticks observed were Rhipicephalusevertsievertsi 70(21.9%), Amblyommavariegatum 59(18.4%), Boophilusdecoloratus 40(12.5%), while Hyalommaanatolicumexcavatum 36(11.3%) and Rhipicephaluspulchellus 26(8.1%) were the minor species of ticks observed on goats and none on sheep were recorded in the study area. The infestation rate of tick in species, age and body condition scored (BCS) were significantly varied (P<0.05), however in sex (P> 0.05). In conclusion, the high prevalence in tick infestation becomes a threat to small ruminants production in the study area, therefore, further studies is recommended on the epidemiology of tick infestation, tick borne diseases as well as tick related risk factors on small ruminants production; as these may provide a benchmark to design appropriate prophylactic and control measures of tick infestation in the study area.