Isolation and identification of ectoparasites in single humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) of Cholistan area, Pakistan

Abstract

Thirty herds comprising four hundred and fifty camels (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em> ) ranging from 5 months to 17 years of age were subjected to external examination of ectoparasites (ticks, mange mites and flies) during November 2010 to July 2011 at Cholistan, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. An overall prevalence of Ectoparasites was 55.55%. Ticks were the most frequent ectoparasites harboring on dromedaries. The ticks in order of their infestations were; <em>Rhipicephalus spp</em> (28.95%) <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em> (26.48%), <em>Dermacentor spp</em> (18.29%) <em>H. anatolicum</em> (12.47%), <em>H. marginatum</em> (6.69%), <em>Ornithodoros spp</em>. (4.89%) and <em>Amblyomma variegatum</em> (2.20%). The <em>Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli</em> (42.22%) was identified as most dominant mange mite. 40.88% camels were infested with two species of dipterans i.e.;<em> Chrysomyia spp</em>. (10%) and <em>Wohlfahrtia magnifica</em> (16.67%) which are most frequently causing preputial and vaginal myiasis. <em>Cephalopina titilator</em> fly (1.11%) was found to cause camel nasal myiasis. The district wise prevalence was as Rahim Yar Khan (60.87%), followed by Bahawalnagar (49.75%) and Bahawalpur (41.05%). The tick load per animal was higher during summer especially in July (64.52%) followed by the lowest ticks load during December (25.58%).The infestation of ectoparasites was higher (69.53%) in camels ranging the age from 5-7 year however the lowest infestation (23.08%) was noted in camels less than one year of age.