Effects of Tick Infestation on Milk Yield, Blood Biochemistry, Hematology, and the Overall Health of Dairy Cows.

ABSTRACT: Tick infestation represents a significant constraint on livestock productivity in Saudi Arabia; however, there remains a substantial gap in research addressing tick species diversity, distribution, and their direct effects on milk production. This study aimed to morphologically and molecularly identify tick species infesting dairy cattle, quantify the impact of tick infestation on milk yield and composition, and contribute to the limited understanding of tick ecology and its economic implications in the region. Ticks were collected from infested cows and identified morphologically using taxonomic keys. Molecular identification was performed via PCR amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Milk production and quality parameters were assessed in ti

SUBMITTER: Al-Shammari M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12472208 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature