The prevalance of tick species (Ixodoidea) in cattle, sheep and goats in the Burdur region, Turkey

This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the tick species infesting cattle, sheep and goats and their seasonal activities in the Burdur area of Turkey. The study was carried out between 1 September 1999 and 31 August 2000 on animals owned by local farmers in Burdur and 14 surrounding villages. The study centres were visited twice a month. The ticks collected from animals and barns were brought to the. laboratory and identified at species level by stereo-microscopic examination. A total of 756 cattle, 996 sheep and 698 goats were examined. During the study period, a total of 3280 (3073 adults and 207 nymphs) ticks were collected from cattle, sheep and goats (863, 1846 and 571, respectively). Also 42 (8 females and 34 nymphs) ticks were found in cracks in sheep barns. The collected ticks were identified as Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis parva, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Boophilus annulatus and Hyalomma marginatum from cattle: D. marginatus, D. niveus, Hae. parva, R. turanicus, R. bursa, H. anatolicum excavatum, Ixodes ricinus and Ornithodoros lahorensis from sheep: and D. marginatus, D. niveus, R. turanicus and Hae. parva from goats. The ticks collected from sheep barns were identified as O. lahorensis. During the 12 month period of this study, tick infestation rates were determined to be 21.8%, 25.4% and 15.8% in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. The highest tick species infestation rate (R. turanicus, R. bursa, D. niveus, I. ricinus, H.a. excavatum and O. lahorensis) was observed in April and May on sheep, whereas the lowest was during winter on cattle (Boo.annulatus) and sheep (O. lahorensis). No ticks were found on goats in winter.