Experimental infection of native chicken with cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus is considered as one of the mostwidespread tick species of the world on several host including cattle. The current studyhas been conducted to evaluated infestation ability of larval R. annulatus on chickengrowth and development, Indicated very few larvae quested or fed on indigenous adultchickens when comparison with the number of larvae which used in this study, and thatthe larval and nymph feeding period of these ticks was very long. The number of larvaefeeding shows in hollows wings, while the number of feeding nymph investigate onhead, wings and above of thigh, both larvae and nymph described on the sameindividual adult chicken, the engorged adult female not observed while the adult malenotice on chickens. Designated the weight of feeding larvae and nymphs stage is0.32±0.04 mg and nymph’s 2.73±1.22 mg. The weight of larvae and nymph stage undermattress and feeder’s chicken 0.27±0.21 and 2.52±1.75 mg respectively, shows notsignificantly when compared between the weight of feeding on chickens and the weightunder mattress and feeder’s chicken by larvae and nymphs stage at (P < 0.05) valuesaccording chi-square. Experimental study shows not transmissions pathogens fromincubating larvae, which got from engorged female infested with Babesia spp., to adultchickens when examined their blood by Giemsa stain.