Abstract

HERNANDEZ, Kirenia et al. Behavior of ticks in different genotypes of large ruminants under silvopastoral system conditions (Technical note). Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.1, pp.72-76. ISSN 0864-0394.

In order to characterize the behavior of the ticks which affect different genotypes of large ruminants in a silvopastoral system, a study was conducted at the Experimental Station of Pastures and Forages «Indio Hatuey», from October, 2010, to March, 2011. Animals of the genotypes F1 (Holstein x Zebu), Commercial Zebu and Buffalypso (water buffalo) were used, managed as a unique herd. Ticks were collected from the different genotypes and counted, every 15 days, and they were identified by their morphology to the species level. The prevalence, extension, infestation intensity and its dynamics, by genotype and by sampling month were determined. In the three genotypes the infestation by Amblyomma cajennense prevailed. In the case of the buffaloes, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was not found, and in cattle this parasite did not exceed 29 %. The infestation rate was low because it did not exceed three ticks per animal; although the peak of ectoparasite infestation was reached in December, when the mean temperature records were 17,1ºC and the relative humidity, 79 %. It is concluded that R. microplus and A. cajennense had incidence on the large ruminant genotypes studied, with predominance of the latter, although the ectoparasite infestation was low. The buffaloes were the least infested, with prevalence of the species A. cajennense.

Keywords : large ruminants; Ixodidae; silvopastoral system.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )