Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological infestation and identification of Ixodidae and Argasidae ticks species in buffalo of different parts of district Khairpur, Pakistan.

Materials and Methods: A total of 720 Water buffaloes from three tehsils (subdivisions) were selected randomly and examined from organized and unorganized dairy farms for tick infestation in district Khairpur, Pakistan. This epidemiological survey was conducted during April to September 2015.

Results: The overall mean population and preferred site of tick attachment to infested animals, in Gambat, Sobhodero, and Kot Diji tehsils, were observed on different body parts. The primary body area of infestation by ticks (head, thorax, abdomen, udder, and tail) ranged from highest in tail and udder part compared to lowest in the abdomen, head, and thorax. In all study areas, the infestation was higher (p<0.05) in tail and udder than other parts of the body. In all the study areas, the overall highest population was found in the month of July. In addition, we first time identify four new species of ticks (Hyalomma anatolicum, H. anatolicum excavatum, Hyalomma Ixodes excavatum, and Ixodes ricinus) in district Khairpur, Pakistan.

Conclusion: Results of this study provide additional information of epidemiological tick infestation, and will be helpful for evolving effective control policy for the management of tick infestation in study district.

Keywords: Argasidae, buffalo, identification, Ixodidae, population, prevalence, ticks, tick infestation.

1. Yang, D.Y., Liu, L., Chen, X. and Speller, C.F. (2008) Wild or domesticated: DNA analysis of ancient water buffalo remains from North China. J. Archaeol. Sci., 35: 2778-2785. [Crossref]

2. F.A.O. (2013) Breeds reported by Pakistan: Buffalo. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations: Economic and Social Department: The Statistical Division, Rome.

3. Anonymous. (2016) Economic Survey Government of Pakistan, Finance Division. Economic Adviser's Wing, Islamabad. p29.

4. Durrani, A.Z. and Shakoori, A.R. (2009) Study on ecological growth conditions of cattle Hyalomma ticks in Punjab, Pakistan. Iran. J. Parasitol., 4: 19-25.

5. Bianca, N. (2008) One Tick Red Meat can do Without. The Weekend Australian. Available from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/one-tick-red-meat-can-do-without/news-story/9c4ac44ac8a502f24bbfb7616ae92bd9. Accessed on 17-10-2016.

6. Sajid, M.S., Iqbal, Z., Khan, M.N., Muhamamd, G. and Iqbal, M.U. (2007) Effect of Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on milk production of dairy buffaloes (Bos Bubalus bubalis) of Punjab (Pakistan). Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 6: 939-941. [Crossref]

7. Jabbar, A., Tariq, A., Zia-Ud-Din, S., Hafiz, A.S., Muhammad, F.Q. and Robin, B.G. (2015) Tick-borne diseases of bovines in Pakistan: Major scope for future research and improved control. Parasit. Vetors., 8: 283. [Crossref]

8. Anderson, J.F. (2002) The natural history of ticks. Med. Clin. N. Am., 86: 205-218. [Crossref]

9. Ghosh, S. and Gaurav, N. (2014) Problem of ticks and tick-borne diseases in India with special emphasis on progress in tick control research: A review. J. Vector Borne Dis., 51: 259-270. [PubMed]

10. Minjauw, B. and McLeod, A. (2003) Tick-borne diseases and poverty. The Impact of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases on the Livelihood of Small Scale and Marginal Livestock Owners in India and Eastern and Southern Africa. Research Report, DFID Animal Health Programmed. Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, U.K. p59-60.

11. Nady, M.A., Mohammed, A.E. and Khalied, A.S. (2014) Studies on prevalence, risk indicators and control options for tick infestation in ruminants. Beni Suef Univ. J. Basic Appl. Sci., 3: 68-73. [Crossref]

12. Biu, A.A., Rabo, J.S., Dawurung, J.S. and Abubakr, S.I.G. (2012) Survey study on the tick fauna of small ruminants on the University of Maiduguri Research Farm (UMRF), Nigeria. Acad. Arena, 4: 1-3.

13. Kadir, M.A., Zangana, I.K. and Mustafa, B.H.S. (2012) A study on epidemiology of hard tick (Ixodidae) in sheep in sulaimani governorate-Iraq. Iraqi J. Vet. Sci., 26: 95-103.

14. Changizi, E. (2014) Prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors for ovine tick infestation in two districts of Semnan area. Iran. J. Vet. Med., 8: 287-292.

15. Monfared, A.L., Mohammad, M. and Roohollah, F. (2015) Prevalence of ixodid ticks on cattle, sheep and goats in Ilam county, Ilam province. Iran. J. Parasitol. Dis., 39: 37-40. [Crossref] [PubMed] [PMC]

16. Mustafa, I., Shabbir, R.M.K., Subhani, M., Ahmed, I., Raza, A., Jamil, S., Muqaddas, H., Shabbir, R.G., Ghani, A., Mahmood, T., Aslam, M., Khan, M.R., Asif, S., Malik, I.U., Raza, A.B.M., Aqeel, M.A., Qayyum, M., Waqas, A. and Ahmed, H. (2014) Seasonal activity of tick infestation in goats and buffalo of Punjab province (district Sargodha), Pakistan. Kafkas Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg., 20: 655-662.

17. Haque, M.J., Singh, N.K. and Rath, S.S. (2011a) Population dynamics of ticks infesting dairy animals. Indian Vet. J., 88: 130-131.

18. Haque, M.J., Singh, N.K., Rath, S.S. and Ghosh, S. (2011b) Epidemiology and seasonal dynamics of ixodid ticks of dairy animals of Punjab state, India. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 81: 661-664.

19. Hassan, R.H. and Al-Zubaidi, H.H. (2014) Cattle and buffaloes tick's infestation in Wasit province districts, Iraq. Kufa. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 5: 31-40.

20. Irshad, N., Qayyum, M., Hussain, M. and Khan, M.Q. (2010) Prevalence of tick infestation and theileriosis in sheep and goats. Pak. Vet. J., 30: 178-180.

21. Sajid, M.S., Iqbal, Z., Khan, M.N., Muhammad, G., Needham, G. and Khan, M.K. (2011) Prevalence, associated determinants, and in vivo chemotherapeutic control of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting domestic goats (Capra hircus) of lower Punjab, Pakistan. Parasitol. Res., 3: 601-609. [Crossref]

22. Ahmed, S., Muhammad, N., Abdual, W. and Mansoor, F.A.A. (2012) Investigations into Ixodidaeticks in cattle in Lahore Pakistan. Vet. Ital., 48: 185-191. [PubMed]

23. Atif, F.A., Khan, M.S., Iqbal, H.J., Ali, Z. and Ullah, S. (2012) Prevalence of cattle tick infestation in three districts of the Punjab, Pakistan. Pak. J. Sci., 64: 49-53.

24. Iqbal, A., Sajid, M.S., Khan, M.N. and Khan, M.K. (2013) Frequency distribution of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting bubaline population of district Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan. Parasitol. Res., 112: 535-541. [Crossref]

25. Iqbal, A., Sajid, M.S., Khan, M.N. and Muhammad, G. (2014) Epizootiology of ectoparasitic fauna infesting selected domestic cattle population of Punjab, Pakistan. Int. J. Agrci. Biol., 16: 443-446.

26. Tasawar, Z., Nasim, S. and Lashari, M.H. (2014) The prevalence of ixodid ticks on buffaloes at private animal farm Bibi Pur, Multan. Glob. Vet., 12: 154-157.

27. Sultana, N., Shamim, A., Awan, M.S., Ali, U., Hassan, M. and Siddique, R.M. (2015) First pilot study on the prevalence of tick infestation in livestock of Tehsil Hajira, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci., 3: 430-434. [Crossref]

28. Sajid, M.S., Iqbal, Z., Khan, M.N. and Muhammad, G. (2008a) Point prevalence of hard ticks infesting domestic ruminants of lower Punjab, Pakistan. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 10: 349-351.

29. Sajid, M.S., Khan, M.N., Iqbal, Z. and Muhammad, G. (2008b) Comparative efficacy of ivermectin and cypermethrin against Hyalomma anatolicum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). In: Proceedings of XXIII International Congress of Entomology, International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa, July, 6-12.

30. Sajid, M.S., Iqbal, Z., Khan, M.N., Muhammad, G. and Muhammad, K.K. (2009) Prevalence and associated risk factors for bovine tick infestation in two districts of lower Punjab, Pakistan. Prev. Vet. Med., 92: 386-391. [Crossref] [PubMed]

31. Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982) Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7th ed. Baillier Tindall and Cassel Ltd., London.

32. Walker, A.R., Bouattour, A., Camicas, J.L., Estrada-Pena, A., Horak, I.G., Latif, A., Pegram, R.G. and Preston, P.M. (2003) Ticks of domestic animals in Africa. A Guide to Identification of Species. Bioscience Reports, U.K. p157.

33. Salih, D.A., Julia, I.I., Hassan, S.M., El-Hussain, A.M. and Jongejan, F. (2008) Preliminary survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in central Equatoria state, Southern Sudan. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res., 75: 47-53. [Crossref]

34. Varun, K., Godara, R., Anish, Y. and Katoch, R. (2013) Prevalence of ixodid ticks in dairy animals of Jammu region. J. Parasit Dis., 39: 418-421.

35. Knopf, L., Komin-Oka, C., Betschart, B., Jongejan, F., Gottstein, B. and Zinsstag, J. (2002) Seasonal epidemiology of ticks and aspects of cowardiosis in N'Dama village cattle in Central Guinea savannah of Coted Ivoire. Prev. Vet. Med., 53: 21-30. [Crossref]

36. Gebre, S., Nigist, M. and Kassa, B. (2001) Seasonal variation of ticks on calves at Sebeta in western Shewa Zone. Ethol. Vet. J., 7: 17-30.

37. Kabir, M.H.B., Mondal, M.M.H., Eliyas, M., Mannan, M.A., Hashem, M.A., Debnath, N.C., Miazi, O.F., Mohiuddin, C., Kashem, M.R., Islam, M.F. and Elahi, M. (2011) An epidemiological survey on investigation of tick infestation in cattle at Chittagong district, Bangladesh. Afr. J. Microbiol. Res., 5: 346-352.