Abstract
The seasonal activity of ticks on sheep and goat populations was examined from December 2000 to November 2001 in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This longitudinal study spread over four seasons and seven agroclimatic zones took into consideration the spectrum of species involved, the levels of infestations, the seasonal epidemiology of ticks and the associated management practices. The most common species of tick spread throughout the state was Haemaphysalis bispinosa followed by Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Hyalomma marginatum isaaci and Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum with mixed infestations being the rule. Although the infestations were found throughout the year, they were greater during the rainy season and rainfall seemed to be the most important climatic factor affecting seasonal variation. In general, most of the small-ruminant populations carried moderate tick burdens with mixed infestations and this varied with the management practices.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Anantaraman, M., 1969. A study of the ticks of the Madras state with special reference to their importance in leather industry. Seminar on Biological Aspects of Leather Manufacture, 1968, (CLRI, Madras), 233-243
Arthur, D.R., 1960. Ticks: A Monograph of the Ixodoidea Part V, On the genera Dermacentor, Anocentor, Cosmiomma, Boophilus and Margaropus, (Cambridge University Press, London)
Christophers, S.R., 1906. The Anatomy and Histology of Ticks, (Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the Government of India, Calcutta)
Geevarghese, G. and Dhanda, V., 1987. The Indian Hyalomma Ticks (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae), (ICAR, New Delhi)
Geevarghese, G., Fernandes, S. and Kulkarni, S.M., 1997. A checklist of Indian ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea). Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 67, 566-574
Gupta, P.R., 1997. Dairy India 1997, 5th edn, (P.R. Gupta, New Delhi), 180
Jagannath, M.S., Alwar, V.S. and Lalitha, C.M., 1973. Ixodid ticks of domestic stock in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 43, 119-124
Joseph, S.A. and Karunamoorthy, G., 1987. Final report of the scheme for the establishment of entomology research unit in the department of parasitology, (Madras Veterinary College)
Kaiser, M.N. and Hoogstraal, H., 1964. The Hyalomma ticks (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae) of Pakistan, India and Ceylon, with keys to sub-genera and species. Acarologia, 6, 257-286
Koshy, T.J., Achuthan, H.N., Rajavelu, G. and Lalitha, C.M., 1979. A survey of the tick fauna of Tamil Nadu. Cheiron, 8, 199-205
Patton, W.S. and Cragg, F.W., 1984. A Textbook of Medical Entomology, (International Books and Periodicals Supply Service, New Delhi), 612-622
Prabaharan, R. and Gnanaraj, P.T., 1996. Evaluation of Agroforestry Systems in Relation to Livestock Production in Different Agroclimatic Zones of Tamil Nadu, (TANUVAS, Chennai), 2-8
Sharif, M., 1928. A revision of the Indian Ixodidae with special reference to the collection in the Indian museum. Indian Museum, 30, 217-344
Trapido, H., Rajagopalan, P.K., Singh, K.R. and Rebello, M.J., 1964. A guide to the identification of all stages of the Haemaphysalis ticks of South India. Bulletin Entomological Research, 55, 249-270
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Latha, B., Aiyasami, S., Pattabiraman, G. et al. Seasonal Activity of Ticks on Small Ruminants in Tamil Nadu State, India. Tropical Animal Health and Production 36, 123–133 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:TROP.0000012108.42526.11
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:TROP.0000012108.42526.11