Species diversity of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Tarhuna, Libya

BACKGROUND: Twenty-five species of ticks have been recorded in Libya. No systematic studies have been conducted in Tarhuna region regarding tick species that infest livestock. AIM: To identify the species of ticks that infest livestock in Tarhuna, Libya. METHODS: The study was carried out from August 2015 to May 2016 in Tarhuna, which is located in northwestern Libya. A total of 634 ticks (349 males, 280 females, and 5 nymphs) were collected from 145 randomly selected animals (camels, sheep, and goats). Samples were collected seasonally from different locations. RESULTS: Four species of ticks were recorded: Hyalomma dromedarii (83.12%), Rhipicephalus bursa (6.94%), Hyalomma excavatum (6.63%), and Rhipicephalus camicasi (3.31%). The mean prevalence of all species was 4.37 ticks/host. All of the tick species were collected from sheep and goats, except H. dromedarii which was collected from camels only. With respect to the season of collection, the number of species varied among seasons; the highest prevalence was in summer (6.53 ticks\host) and the lowest was in spring (2.18 ticks\host). The highest average number of tick species was observed in H. dromedarii (10.13 ticks/host), followed by 1.21 ticks/host in R. camicasi, 1.07 ticks/host in H. excavatum, and the lowest in R. bursa (1.02 tick/host). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that the abundance of ticks varied among species and seasons.