Molecular biodiversity and spatio-temporal distribution of hard ticks infesting cattle in district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, ixodid ticks have a variety of distribution patterns. Globally, ticks are the significant carrier of numerous diseases affecting people, animals, and livestock. Tick infestations generate serious issues in Pakistan's livestock industry, which is the country's principal source of rural income. They significantly harm the cattle business by causing hide loss and the spread of vector-borne diseases. About US$ 498.7 million in annual economic losses were attributed to tick-borne diseases. The distribution and way of life of ticks are significantly influenced by factors like the climate, host accessibility used by people and animals, and the environment. From March 2022 to October 2022, this study was carried out in seven tehsils of district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). By using a practical sample technique, 2217 ticks overall were gathered from 561 infected cattle of diverse ages and sexes. With the aid of precise morphological characteristics, tick identification was done down to the genus and species level. Rhipicephalus microplus is exclusively to blame for annual loss through irritation, a decrease in milk/meat production frequently results in animal death, and the spread of contagious diseases such as babesiosis, theileriosis, and anaplasmosis. Numerous bacterial and viral illnesses, such as the tick-borne encephalitis virus and the Caribbean hemorrhagic fever virus, bacteria are spread by the Rhipicephalus genus. Rhipicephalus microplus (40.78%) had a larger prevalence than Hyalomma anatolicum (31.93%), while Hyalomma marginatum (27.29%) had the lowest prevalence, according to the findings. Several risk variables were substantially correlated with the prevalence of all ixodid tick species (age, sex, living conditions). Comparatively male, and young animals in plain, concrete buildings were less harmed than female and adult animals kept in mountainous, traditional rural dwellings. The distribution of tick infestation by body region showed that external genitalia (34.93%) was the most popular location, followed by the udder (26.02%), neck and head regions (20.68%), ear and tail (9.63%), shoulder (6.78%), and rear legs (1.96%). Additionally, mature, frail, and female animals are more susceptible to a tick infection. Tick infestation is worst on the body's concealed areas. Summer was the season with the highest tick prevalence, followed by spring and fall. The KPK province's cattle population was primarily infested by the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, and the summer was the tick season with the highest tick load records