Species composition, diversity and predilection sites of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cattle in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites infesting wilds and domestic animals as well as humans and, are considered after mosquitoes to be the principal vectors for the transmission of various pathogens. The ixodid tick fauna remains poorly understood and the aim of the present study was to determine their species composition, species diversity and predilection sites as well as their relative frequency, infestation abundance and intensity of infestation amongst cattle in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. In present study, a total of 2348 ticks were collected both on 182 cattle and vegetation and identified at species level using a valid identification keys. Three life stages: adults (91.52%), nymphs (5.88%) and larvae (2.6%), four genera: Amblyomma (50.8%), Rhipicephalus (35.44%), Hyalomma (0.46%) and Haemaphysalis (5.24%) and nine species of ticks: Amblyomma variegatum (42.42%), Rhipicephalus (B) decoloratus (17.97%), Rhipicephalus (B) microplus (13.67%), Amblyomma hebraeum (8.4%), Hyalomma rufipes (8.05%), Haemaphysalis leachi (5.24%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (2.47%), Rhipicephalus (B) annulatus (1.32%) and Hyalomma truncatum (0.46%) were found. The overall prevalence of infestation was 78.57%. Cattle with the poor body condition score (57.34%) were the most infested while the most infested sites of attachment were perineum (37.64%), followed by the head (23.14%), the ventral side (19.15%), the neck (11.8%), the back (5.84%) and the legs (2.43%). The infestation abundance was assessed to 10.15 ticks per cattle. The high parasitic load was found on perineum (4.86) as well as Amblyomma variegatum (4.87) was the species with the high intensity burden. Species diversity was assessed using species indices. Amblyomma variegatum was identified as eudominant species with the most relative abundance. According to SHE analysis, it appeared that evenness had an effect on the changes of species diversity and also, it showed that cattle and vegetation are occupied by common species. This result will permit to improve the knowledge on the species composition, species diversity and predilection sites of ticks present in the study area and may also help to build up a good controlstrategy for ticks as well as associated diseases.