PREVALENCE OF TICKS AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFESTATION OF SHEEP IN RIVER NILE STATE, SUDAN

A cross-sectional study was conducted in River Nile State, Sudan, between June to August 2018 determine the prevalence of tick infestation on sheep and potential risk factors associated with infestation. total 135 from five different localities (Shendi, Al Matamah, Ad-Damer, Atbara, Berber) were examined and, these, 90 tick-infested (66.7%). 340 ticks (male 185, female 155) collected identified using zoological taxonomic keys. The most dominant species this survey Rhipicephalus eversti Neumann, 1897 (38%), followed by Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844 (23.8%), sanguineus Latreille, 1806 (20.6%), praetextatus Gerstacker, 1873 (16.4%), dromedarii (1.2%). chi-square analysis showed that there a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) localities, housing type, sex, control ticks, removal manure. highest rate recorded open females, farms did not use acaricides remove manure frequently. On other hand, no ˃ herd size, rearing system, breed, age colour coat (p=0.846). This expanded knowledge fauna it demonstrated multiple are infesting transmit several tick-borne diseases.