Abondance saisonnière des tiques (Acari / Ixodidae) infestant le bétail dans quatre régions irriguées au Maroc

A study has been conducted between April 2007 and March 2008 to identify tick species infesting cattle in four irrigated regions in Morocco and to determine their abundance and phenology. The influence of climate, type of farm, age, sex and origin of the animals on the tick infestation was analyzed. 5,777 ticks have been collected and ten species identified, Hyalomma scupense 1,544 (26.7%), Hyalomma marginatum 1,489 (25.8%), Hyalomma lusitanicum 199 (3.4%), Hyalomma excavatum 554 (6.1%), Hyalomma dromedarii 59 (1.0%), Hyalomma impeltatum 26 (0.5%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus 266 (4.6%), Rhipicephalus turanicus 232 (4.0%), Rhipicephalus bursa 391 (10.2%) and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus 1,017 (17.6%). The activity of most of the species was limited to spring and summer. According to the study, age and type of farm have a significant influence on the degree of infestation of cattle by ticks, whereas the origin and sex of the animals and climate had less influence. Key words: Ticks,  Ixodidae, Cattle, Irrigated areas, MoroccoUne étude a été menée entre Avril 2007 et Mars 2008 au niveau de quatre régions irriguées du Maroc dans le but d’identifier les espèces de tiques qui infestent les bovins et de déterminer leur abondance et leur phénologie. L'influence du climat, le type d’élevage, l'âge, le sexe et la race des bovins sur l'infestation des tiques ont été analysés. 5777 tiques ont été recueillies et dix espèces identifiées, Hyalomma scupense 1544 (26,7%), Hyalomma marginatum 1489 (25,8%), Hyalomma lusitanicum 199 (3,4%), Hyalomma excavatum 554 (6,1%), Hyalomma dromedarii 59 (1,0%), Hyalomma Impeltatum 26 (0,5 %), Rhipicephalus sanguineus 266 (4,6%), Rhipicephalus turanicus 232 (4,0%), Rhipicephalus bursa 391 (10,2%) et Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus 1017 (17,6%). L'activité de la plupart des espèces a été limitée au printemps et à l’été. Selon cette étude, l'âge et le type d'élevage ont une influence significative sur le degré d'infestation des bovins par les tiques, alors que l'origine et le sexe des bovins et du climat ont eu moins d'influence. Mots clés : Tiques, Ixodidae, Bovins, Zones irriguées, Maro

Seasonal abundance of ticks (Acari/ Ixodidae) infesting cattle in four irrigated regions in Morocco

A study has been conducted between April 2007 and March 2008 to identify tick species infesting cattle in four irrigated regions in Morocco and to determine their abundance and phenology. The influence of climate, type of farm, age, sex and origin of the animals on the tick infestation was analyzed. 5,777 ticks have been collected and ten species identified, Hyalomma scupense 1,544 (26.7%), Hyalomma marginatum 1,489 (25.8%), Hyalomma lusitanicum 199 (3.4%), Hyalomma excavatum 554 (6.1%), Hyalomma dromedarii 59 (1.0%), Hyalomma impeltatum 26 (0.5%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus 266 (4.6%), Rhipicephalus turanicus 232 (4.0%), Rhipicephalus bursa 391 (10.2%) and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus 1,017 (17.6%). The activity of most of the species was limited to spring and summer. According to the study, age and type of farm have a significant influence on the degree of infestation of cattle by ticks, whereas the origin and sex of the animals and climate had less influence