Save livestock from ticks in summer season- Gadvasu expert

Ludhiana, June 10, 2013



Though the ticks can be found throughout the year, but their number and activity increase during the summer season as temperature and humidity are highly favourable during this season contributing towards the increase in their population. Ticks cause lot of damage to dairy animals in this season leading to the transmission of tick-borne diseases. ticks cause direct and indirect losses to animals. As for as the direct losses are concerned, ticks suck lot of blood of the animal leading to anemia. Besides this, they cause lot of irritation to animals which can not eat properly leading to loss of production. Ticks are also responsible for transmission of a number of diseases. So it is very important to remove ticks from animals as soon as they are found.

According to Dr. L.D. Singla, Professor & head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, GADVASU, based on their life cycle ticks build up their population too early during summers and thus it is necessary to spray the animals and surrounding area with acaricides at least thrice at an interval of ten days in consultation with Veterinary Doctor. Care should be taken that the animals may not lick the spray once an acaricidal application has been done. Let it dry on the animal itself for proper control of arthropod vectors. Never use a single acarida for a longer period of time, as it results into the development of resistance. Dr. Singla is of the opinion that regular and repeated application of newer generation of acaricides is required to control the ticks.

Tick control involves not only killing the various stages of ticks on animals but also preventing the females from laying large numbers of eggs which later develop into ticks. Dr. Singla emphasized that crevices and cracks in the walls and floor of the shed are the major hideouts for ticks where females lay eggs. Hence it is important that chemical should be sprayed on these spots with double strength of acaricides or the cracks and crevices should be properly sealed. Experts also advise farmers to get the floor, walls and roof of dairy farm cemented to control the tick population.

Parasitology experts suggest that if there are only few ticks found over the body of animal, these can be removed manually. Grasp the tick firmly as close as possible to the skin with tweezers gently but firmly and then pull it upward carefully. Avoid any twisting or jerking motion of the tweezers otherwise it may break off the mouth parts of the tick in the skin. Mouth parts left in the wound may cause irritation or infection. Dispose of the tick by drowning it in alcohol or flushing it down a drain or toilet. It is of utmost important to keep animals as well as their surroundings clean to reduce the tick population as well as tick transmitted diseases.


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