Measures of parasitism of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting goats Capra aegagrus in Basrah province, Iraq, with remarks on ecology

Goats are one of the essential economic animals in Iraq. Many species of ticks parasitize goats, and cause systemic diseases worldwide. The study was designed with a total of 240 goats in Basrah province, southern Iraq, from January to June 2021. 110 of 240 (45.83%) examined goats were infested with ixodid ticks. Samples of ticks identified to the species based on morphological features, using the taxonomic keys. Several phenotypic features performed the diagnosis. Six species of ixodid ticks were identified: Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Rhipicephalus turanicus. The species H. scupense was recorded in the South of Iraq for the first time. Goats have recorded a new host of the species H. dromedarii in Iraq. The species H. anatolicum recorded the highest rates in prevalence, mean intensity, and relative density, while H. dromedarii was the lowest. The number of female ticks was higher than that of males; the total number of ticks collected was mostly engorged females, while, the larvae were the lowest. The concurrent infestation of goats with ixodid ticks' species ranged between single and quadruple infestation. The highest numbers of ticks were isolated from the face, ear, udder, tail, testes, thighs, and axilla on the body of infected goats