Ticks are important ectoparasites which transmit many disease pathogen to animals;
these are labelled tick borne diseases (TBD). Tick induced damage to skin and hides has not
received attention. Skin and hides are important for the leather product industry, particularly
in Pakistan. Due to economic importance and financial loss by ticks in leather industry, the
present study was designed to investigate skin and hides damage due to ticks at microscopic
level. Naturally tick infested tissue samples of hides and skin were collected from slaughter
houses. Primary lesions at tick feeding sites showed epidermal edema with adjacent dermal
edema. Histopathological examination revealed degeneration of epidermal layer down to the
basal layer. Epidermal and sub dermal layers often displayed focal necrosis infiltrated with
neutrophils and mononuclear cells at tick bite sites. Hyperplasia of keratinocytes was also
seen at sites of ruptured epidermis. Quality of leather depends upon the grain (Outer) surface
skin/hides. Ticks infestation damages the outer surface, due to bites, inflammatory responses,
and secondary bacterial infections that often become established at feeding sites. Control of
ticks should be given consideration to reduce infestation induced losses in the leather industry
in Pakistan.