%0 Journal Article
%T Tick-Wildlife Associations in Lowland Rainforest,  Rivers State, Nigeria
%A Samuel Nwabufo Okiwelu
%J Scientific & Academic Publishing
%D 2019
%R 10.5923/j.re.20190902.02
%X Background and Objectives: Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Wild meat (bushmeat) is meat from any wild terrestrial mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian harvested for subsistence or trade, most often illegally. The benefits of bushmeat are varied. A compelling case has been made that our focus on wildlife should not be restricted to conservation but extended to their health. Many of the studies on tick-wildlife associations on the continent were in South Africa. Studies in Nigeria are very limited. An investigation was conducted to determine the tick diversity, numbers, host species and predilection sites on carcasses brought to a rural bushmeat market in lowland rainforest, Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: The catchment area of offtakes was approximately 54km<SUP>2</SUP>. The study was conducted over a 4-month period, late dry and early rainy seasons, March-June, 2010. Specimens, collected directly with forceps from the terrestrial animals, were identified by standard keys. Results: A total of 671 ticks were collected from ten mammalian species. Six ixodid tick genera (<i>Amblyomma,</i> <i>Cosimiomma, Hyalomma,</i> <i>Aponomma,</i> <i>Boophilus,</i> <i>Rhipicephalus,</i> <i>Haemaphysalis</i>) of the 12 on the continent were recorded. The two argasid tick genera on the continent <i>Ornithodorus </i>and<i> Argas</i> were collected. Ticks were found on the 10 wildlife species. The highest numbers were collected from the Greater Cane rat, <i>Thyronomys</i> <i>swinderianus</i>; MaxwellˇŻs Duiker, <i>Cephalophus</i> <i>maxwelli</i>, and Brush-tailed porcupine, <i>Artherurus</i> <i>africanus</i>, in descending order. The least number was on the Mona monkey, <i>Cercopitheus</i> <i>mona</i>. Although head and trunk were preferred to legs as predilection sites, the differences were not significant. These tick genera contain species important in disease transmission. Interpretation and Conclusion: Results were compared to those obtained in 1990 at the same location. In 1990, most ticks were collected from hyaena, Red river hog, palm civet, but in the present study they were from Greater cane rat, MaxwellˇŻs duiker and brush-tailed porcupine. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Populations of hyaena probably declined steeply to very low numbers so that the probability of encounter was extremely low or local extinction occurred over the 2-decade period. Since there was a plethora of disease vectors, significant increases in species richness and numbers, it was therefore likely that
%K Ticks genera
%K Wildlife species
%K Predilection sites
%K Lowland rainforest
%K Nigeria
%U http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.re.20190902.02.html