Tick Infestation and Piroplasm Infection in Barbarine and Queue Fine de l’Ouest Autochthonous Sheep Breeds in Tunisia, North Africa

Abstract

: As ticks and tick genetically resistant breeds to infestation by ticks may represent an alternative to the overuse of chemical drugs. The aim of this study was to assess if there is the main she in 17 small to middle ty-nine ear-tagged ewes from Barbarine (n=288, 65.6%) and Queue Fine de l’Ouest 34.4%) breeds were examined and sampled each trimester. Ticks were identified to the species level, and piroplasms were detected using PCR that targets a common sequence ARNr18S to both Babesia and animals;91.4% (646/707) of them were were markedly less infested by ticks the Barbarine breed. breed,were detected positive ceptibility of QFO ewes to infestation by ticks and to infection by piroplasms. The QF breed could be raised preferably at high concrete control strategies