Seasonal Dynamics and Predilection Sites of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Feeding on Cows in the Western Parts of the Djurdjura, Algeria

The present study aimed to determine the phenology and predilection sites of ticks infesting cattle in western region Djurdjura (North Algeria) from November 2018 October 2020. Nineteen farms located thirteen localities within four provinces were visited monthly for two years. Among 289 examined cattle, 64.36 ± 2.81% (n=189) infested by ticks. Of 10,243 collected ticks, most abundant tick species was Rhipicephalus bursa (31.57 0.46%), followed R. annulatus (31.26 0.45%), Hyalomma marginatum (10.67 0.30%), H. lusitanicum (7.02 0.25%), excavatum (5.52±%0.22), scupense (4.27 0.19%) impeltatum (3.32 0.17%). Ticks throughout year but a limited number during winter. impletatum showed similar activity March peaked April July, respectively (P<0.001). active both September respectively. August July October. turanicus between June. genus had an affinity attachment inguinal All parasitic stages necks Nymphs prefer neck (P<0.001), adults attach perennial regions ears As far as we know, this is first on west Algeria.