Vol. 5 Issue 2
Fathi M. Diab, Mohammed S. Al-Khalifa, Hussein S. Hussein and Nasser A. Al-Asgah
A survey was undertaken in north and eastern Saudi Arabia to determine the tick species parasitizing indigenous livestock. Hyalomma schulzei was the most numerous species but parasitizes only camels in the northern frontier region. Hyalomma dromedarii was the most widespread species parasitizing mainly camel throughout the region, except at the far north where it has been replaced by H. schulzei. Rhipicephalus turanicus was abundant on sheep and goats and the second most abundant species. The study area proved to be one of its main regions of distribution in the Arabian Peninsula. Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum was abundant on camels, sheep and goats and Hyalomma impeltatum on camels and sheep. Boophilus kohlsi is reported for the first time from Dammam whilst Hyalomma anatoticum anatolicum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes were represented by a few specimens. Animals in the the arid pastoral regions carried far more ticks than those in the cultivated areas, and in all locations cattle were free of ticks. The medical and veterinary importance of collected ticks is discussed.
Naim S. Ismail and Sami K. Abdel-Hafez
A total of 5600 Melanopsis praemorsa (L., 1758) snails were collected from two stations near El-Maqaren at Yarmouk River, Jordan during the period from May 1982 to March 1984. Of these 6.04% were infected with Larval trematodes which included nine different types of cercariae: Cercaria melanopsi I through VII, a tail less cercaria, and Cercaria levantina 5. Overall infection rates of M. praemorsa with larval trematodes varied seasonally and three peaks have been observed. The first was during September-October, the second during January, and the third during May-June. The most abundant type of larval trematodes was the tail less cercaria and exhibited the same seasonality as the total infection. The appearance of young snails (3-6 mm long) during July 1983 may indicate that M. praemorsa produces at least once a year. The heavy rains and flooding during February 1983 has drastically affected the snail population at one of the stations. The relationship between the density of snails and the infection rates with larval trematodes is discussed.
M.S. Al-Khalifa, H.S. Hussein, N.A. Al-Asgah and F.M. Diab
A survey of local livestock in western and southern Saudi Arabia yielded seven indigenous and six introduced tick species and subspecies. The introduced Boophilus annulatus, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Amblyomma gemma, Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma truncatum and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi are well established especially in Jazan and Najran Provinces and their threat to human and domestic animals' health is highlighted. Hyalomma dromedarii is the most abundant and widespread species in the area. Jazan and Najran Provinces proved to be its main regions of distribution in the Kingdom. This species coexists on the camel with Hyalomma impeltatum throughout the study area. The Sarawat Mountain range, especially in Makkah Province, is the home of two relict parasites Hyalomma arabica and Boophilus kohlsi; both chiefly infest the goat, but their postulated host is the Nubian Ibex, Capra ibex nubiana (Cuvier). Rhipicephalus turanicus occurs in Al-Madina, Makkah and Asir Provinces which represent a western and southern extension of its northern and eastern range in the Arabian Peninsula. Jazan Province is the main area of distribution of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in the Kingdom, with cattle and sheep as the main hosts for adult ticks. Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum is mainly distributed on sheep and camels in eastern, central and northern Saudi Arabia.