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Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Ticks (Family Ixodidae) in Goats Raised in a Small
Private Farm in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Central Luzon, Philippines

Priscilla Hope Poblete Swann* and Florencia Garcia Claveria

Biology Department, College of Science, De La Salle University,
2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Metro Manila 1004 Philippines

*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to ascertain tick infestation of goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) grown in a small private farm in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Central Luzon, Philippines. Prevalence of infestation was assessed based on ticks collected, soaked in Boardman's solution, and fixed in EtOH with glycerol. Ticks were evaluated as per their developmental stages and gender, and were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Prevalence was 62.5% with an average mean intensity of eight ticks/goat. Throughout the study, male goats had higher mean intensity (6-11 ticks/goat) compared to females (4-7 ticks/goat).

 

INTRODUCTION
Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasitic arthropods and can transmit deadly viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. Worldwide, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp., Ixodes spp., and Hyalomma spp. infest livestock and domestic animals (Mehlhorn 2008; Schroder & Reilly 2013). In the Philippines, there are documented evidence of the presence of tick-borne protozoan parasites in cattle and water buffaloes with Babesia spp. and A. marginale (Dumag & Reyes 1960; Molina & Montenegro 1997; Padilla et al. 2006; Foronda et al. 2010; Ybañez et al. 2013);  horses with Babesia parasites confirmed through detection of antibodies to B. caballi and/or B. equi using immuno-chromoatographic test (ICT) (Cruz-Flores et al. 2010),  and foundpolymerase chain reaction (Yu et al. 2013). The use of ICT has also revealed the presence of anti-B. gibsoni antibodies in Rhipicephalus ticks-infested dogs (Cruz-Flores et al. 2008). Tongson and colleagues (1981) examined 1305 goats from different areas in the Philippines and found that these possessed different kinds of arthropods: lice, mites, and the R. B. microplus tick. . . . read more

 

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