Global Veterinaria 15 (1): 19-23, 2015 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2015.15.01.95257 Corresponding Author: Dr. Zubia Masood, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan. E-mail: masoodzubia@gmail.com. 19 Impact Assessment of Tick Species, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus on the Milk Productions of Cattle’s in the Quetta City Of Province Balochistan, Pakistan Nosheen Rafique, Asmatullah Kakar, Asim Iqbal, 1 2 2 Zubia Masood, Wajeeha Razzaq and Farhat Iqbal 3 1 1 Department of Zoology, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan 1 Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan 2 Department of Zoology, University of Karachi-75270, Karachi, Pakistan 3 Abstract: The current study was conducted to focus on the effect of Boophilus microplus on the yield of milk production in cattle’sstudied in various farm houses of Quetta City of province Balochistan of Pakistan. In the present study, a total of 773 Boophilus microplus tick samples were collectedfrom 150 infested cowspecies, in various farm houses of Quetta. Ticks were identified on the basis of their morphological features and their impact on milk production of infested cows were observed and recorded in liters. The obtained results revealed that milk production was appeared to be decline in different species of infested cow due to Boophilus microplus. Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Dahnicows when in fested with Boophilus microplus showed 0.5 litre decrease in milk production, while in fested Walaeeti cow revealeda significant decrease, that was 2 to 3 litresdecline in milk production. Thus, our present study proved that heavy load of tick Boophilus microplus could be responsible for decline in milk production and thestudy will be useful to estimate the economic losses caused as a result of the effect of ticks on dairy cattle. Key words: Ticks Boophilus microplus Infestation Cows INTRODUCTION mostly reported to parasitize on cattle’s are arranged in Ticks areectoparasites of reptiles, birds and mammals, followed by Hyalomma 31.25%, Rhipicephalus 17.93%, as they are obligate and blood sucking arachnids. Ticks Amblyomma 4.61%, respectively as previously are vector of large number of disease including reported by Manan et al. [4]. Genus Boophilus are hard Therelichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Bebesioses, Typhus and ticks found in Australia, America, Asia and Africa. Enrlichiosis etc. [1]. Ticks have hematophagousmode Nowadays, Boophilusare included in Rhipicephalus and of nutrition as their blood sucking habit is rapacious, so are enormously important for the livestock industry in the they impoverishes the hosts due to their requirement of world. Boophilus species are one host hard ticks that are lot of blood for rapid development. Due to heavy affecting mainly cattle including buffaloes, cows, infestation of ticks, cattle takes more feed for fulfillment antelopes, deer, sheep’s, goat and horses, while birds, of requirement of parasite, then it effects the retarded cats, dogs and humans do not affected by Boophilus. growth of young ones, while adults may remain internally Some important species of genus Boophilus are weak stunted, thin and production of milk in dairy cows Boophilus microplus, which isalso known as cattle ticks. became greatly reduced [2]. During the summer season, Boophilus annulatus called as American cattle ticks ticks prevalence becomes much higher than winter and Boophilus decoloratus also called as blue ticks. season as previously reported by Nousheen et al. [3]. Boophilus microplus mainly causes the significant In cattle’s and buffalos, genus Hyalomma is most economic loses to the livestock industry in turn of prevalent followed by those belonging to Boophilus [2]. production of meat, death of affected animals and The percentage of infestation of tick species that are decreased milk yield and also damaged hide [5]. decreasing orderwere as follows; 46.1% for Boophilus,