Abstract

This study was done to explore the ticks infestation and to identify its  species in one-humped camels ( Camelus dromedaries ) surrounded Sawa lake /Al Muthanna province / Iraq.  In response to the camel’s owners request, a total of  255 camels consists of 98 (15 males & 83 female) and 157 (14 male & 143 female)  camels from first and second herd respectively, were undergone to clinical and parasitological examinations during   2^nd  to 28^th   February 2020, near Sawa lake.  Observable ticks were collected from different body regions of each animals. Ticks were transferred to the laboratory for further investigations. During the study period,  a total,  1895 ticks were collected.  The overall ticks infestation percentage was 98.43 % (251) comprise 98.97 % (97) and 98.08% ( 154) in the first and second herds.  According to gender, the highest infestation percentage was 99.11% ( 224 out of 226)  and 93.10 % ( 27 out of 29) for female and male in herd 1 and 2 respectively.  According to lesion severity,  out of 255 examined camels, there were 197( 77.25%), 38 (14.90%) and 19 (7.45%) revealed mild, moderate and severe infestation respectively. The affected camels were revealed severe lesions that distributed over all the body including; udder, testes, anus , inguinal, face, area, axillary, chest, and legs. Large areas of the skin of the affected animals were revealed complete hair loss accompanied with thickening, white gray heavy crusts. Sever itching and annoyance were very clear on the animals, moreover some severely affected animals were suffering from dehydration.  Boophilus spp and Hylomma spp. were as the most abundant species of ticks in this study.  Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that camels found to harbor both Hyalomma spp. and Boophilus  spp.  The results of this study also approved heavy ticks infestation between the herds of the camels. Ticks especially Hyalomma spp are the most notorious ticks for transmission of human and animal diseases. Therefore, proper ticks treatment using acaricides and insecticides of the affected camels is the most effective protocol not only for controlling ticks infestation  in camels but also for prevention from re-infestation from the animal environment.