ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (Koch, 1844) from Cattle in Zaria, Northwestern Nigeria
1Raymond*, D., 1George, B.D.J., 1Lawal, I.A., 2Rabiu, M.
1Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 06 Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
2Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Ilorin, P.M.B 1515 Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Abstract
Received 27 March, 2024; Revised 23 April, 2024; Accepted 16 February, 2025 and Published 06 August, 2025
Purpose: Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are important ectoparasites of cattle and other domestic livestock serving as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Ixodid ticks and genetically identify Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus sampled from cattle in Zaria, Kaduna State in Northwestern Nigeria. Methods: A total of 384 cattle were sampled from June 2018 to October 2018 to determine the prevalence and true identity of ixodid ticks of cattle in the region and 439 ticks (Ixodidae) were collected from 335 infested cattle. Results: Three genera of ticks comprising five species were found infesting cattle in Zaria. Amblyomma variegatum constitutes the highest percentage of ticks collected from the sample sites (47.8%; 210/439), followed by Rhipicephalus (B) decoloratus (31.0%; 136/439). Hyalomma species had the least percentage of infestation, with Hyalomma truncatum having (18.5%; 81/439) infestation. Hyalomma impeltatum had (1.8%; 8/439) and Hyalomma rufipes had (0.9%; 4/439) infestation respectively. The presence of Rhipicephalus (B) decoloratus was identified molecularly from all the sampling sites with accession numbers (MK501835, MK501836, and MK501837). Conclusion: This finding was confirmed for the first time in Zaria, Kaduna State, in Northwestern Nigeria using a molecular technique targeting the ITS-2 region of the ticks. This study confirms the presence of Rhipicephalus (B) decoloratus in Zaria, Kaduna State in Northwestern Nigeria in addition to other tick species. This finding implies that there may be an additional economic burden to livestock farmers due to the increased cost of tick control as well as disease management.
Keywords: Morphological, Molecular, Rhipicephalus (B) decoloratus, Cattle, Zaria.