Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
Prev Vet Med. 2009 Dec 1;92(4):386-91. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.09.001. Epub 2009 Sep 25.
Bovine tick infestation is still a serious nuisance to livestock and the dairy industry of Pakistan. The current paper reports the prevalence and associated risk factors for bovine tick infestation in the districts Layyah and Muzaffargarh of lower Punjab, Pakistan. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to identify and to quantify variation in the prevalence of bovine tick infestation with respect to host (age, species, sex, and breed) and environmental (geographical area and climate) determinants. Multiple stage cluster random sampling was used and 3500 cattle and buffaloes from the two districts were selected. Prevalence of bovine tick infestation was significantly higher (OR=1.95; p<0.05) in cattle (1076/1475; 72.9%) than in buffaloes (957/2025; 47.3%). Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was the major tick species (33.5%; 1173/3500), followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (13%; 456/3500). The highest monthly prevalence in both the districts was found in July. Ticks were not found in Layyah from November to March and in Muzaffargarh from December to March. The average number of ticks was proportional to the prevalence of infestation. Also, tick infestation in a 7cmx7cm dewlap of the animal was proportional to that of the rest of body. Prevalence of tick infestation was associated (p<0.05) with district, host species and breed. In cattle, prevalence of tick infestation was associated (p<0.05) with age and sex of host. The results of this study provide better understanding of disease epidemiology in the study districts, which will help for planning of control strategies.
巴基斯坦的牛羊蜱虫感染仍然是畜牧业和奶制品行业的一个严重问题。本研究报告了巴基斯坦旁遮普省莱亚和木尔坦地区的牛羊蜱虫感染的流行情况和相关风险因素。我们采用基于问卷的调查方法，确定并量化了宿主（年龄、物种、性别和品种）和环境（地理区域和气候）因素对牛羊蜱虫感染流行率的变化。采用多阶段聚类随机抽样方法，从这两个地区抽取了 3500 头牛和水牛。牛的蜱虫感染流行率明显高于水牛（1076/1475；72.9%对 957/2025；47.3%）（OR=1.95；p<0.05）。安纳托利亚璃眼蜱（Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum）是主要的蜱种（33.5%；1173/3500），其次是血红扇头蜱（Rhipicephalus sanguineus）（13%；456/3500）。两个地区的最高月感染率均出现在 7 月。在莱亚，11 月至 3 月没有发现蜱虫，在木尔坦，12 月至 3 月没有发现蜱虫。每个动物的 7cmx7cm 的垂皮上的蜱虫数量与感染率成正比。此外，动物身体其余部位的蜱虫感染率与垂皮上的蜱虫感染率成正比。蜱虫感染的流行率与地区、宿主物种和品种有关。在牛中，蜱虫感染的流行率与宿主的年龄和性别有关（p<0.05）。本研究的结果提供了对研究地区疾病流行病学的更好理解，这将有助于制定控制策略。
