Impacts of the seasonal climates, host preference and domestic habitat environment on the abundance of ticks in a district in Tamil Nadu, South India.

Abstract

Ticks are medically and veterinary important hematophagous ectoparasites in transmitting many vector-borne diseases to humans and animals. A study was conducted (July 2017-June 2018) in the Madurai district, Tamil Nadu South India, to observe the host preference, abundance and seasonal variations of ectoparasites. A total of 1132 ticks belonging to 15 different species under 4 genera were collected from 114 cows, 35 dogs, 90 goats, 7 cats, and 22 hens. A significant (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.005) variation was observed in the mean burden [range: 1.2-31.3] among the host animals, and tick infestation rate (%) significantly differed (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) among host animals [range: 12.9&#xa0;%-36.8&#xa0;%] and seasons [range: 7.1&#xa0;%-38.2&#xa0;%]. The tick index in cows was high from September to December, in dogs during November & December, in goats during September & December, in cats during December, and in hens during January. There was significant variation in tick collection in seasons and female ticks (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and no variation in the male tick collections seasonally. Lowering the temperature, and increase in rainfall, and relative humidity favoured tick abundance and host animal positivity. This study showed tick abundance is significantly influenced by the temperature, humidity, habitat preference, seasonal pattern, rainfall and host preference of a given host species in an area influenced by the total number of ticks present. Routine surveillance will help health professionals to initiate control of ticks based on host animals' seasonal dominance and may support eradicating tick-borne diseases.