Diversity of Tick Species (Ixodidae) Parasitizing Livestock at the Niamey Slaughterhouse and Major Livestock Markets in Niamey, Niger

The diversity of ticks in livestock is extensive, with major genera like Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma identified worldwide, each containing multiple species. This study was conducted between October and November 2024 across three major livestock markets and the slaughterhouse in Niamey, Niger. The objective was to identify the various tick species (Ixodidae) in livestock and to assess their abundance and the variability of infestation levels according to host species, tick genus, and tick species. Ticks were collected using manual removal from conveniently selected animals and preserved in 70% ethanol. A total of 160 animals were examined, 40 animals per site. In total, 330 ticks were collected from the examined animals. The majority of ticks were females, 68% (225/330). Morphological identification revealed 19 tick species belonging to five genera: Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus), and Rhipicephalus. Rhipicephalus was the most prevalent genus. Among the identified species, Amblyomma variegatum was the most dominant at 33.0% (109/330), followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus at 13.3% (44/330), while Hyalomma anatolicum and Hyalomma truncatum were the least represented, each accounting for 0.3% (2/330) of the tick population. The Shannon-Weaver diversity indices calculated across the different study sites indicated that the environments were species-rich and ecologically favorable. The Pielou’s Evenness Index (E) value was 0.5. This study highlights the diversity of tick species infesting livestock in Niamey. It establishes baseline data on tick infestation in the Niamey Region and highlights the critical need for further research to identify associated pathogens.