The scapulocostal syndrome

The scapulocostal syndrome, a hitherto insufficiently understood condition, was clinically studied in 201 cases. The main findings were: (i) pain was the presenting symptom in all cases and was mainly cervicobrachial (90%); (ii) the syndrome is a definable entity within the wide spectrum of fibromyalgia (fibrositis); (iii) the pain originates mainly from an enthesopathy of the serratus posterior superior muscle; and (iv) physical degeneration was present in 76,5% of patients.Conservative treatment, successful in 95,9% of cases, consisted of an intralesional injection of a steroid-analgesicmixture of 1 ml Celestone-Soluspan (Scherag) plus 1,8 ml Xylotox E80A (Astra), and physical rehabilitation. It was deducted that the dyskinesia was mainly due to an overload of the scapulocostal articulation, forcing the rib cage down to exert a stretching force on the serratus posterior superior muscle. The operation of 'serratotomy' (severing the serratus posterior superior muscle) was performed with excellent results in 6 patients in whom conservative treatment failed, and is described here for the first time

The Relative host status of rock elephant shrews Elephantulus myurus and Namaqua rock mice Aethomys namaquensis for economically important ticks

Several tick species of medical and veterinary importance occur in the southern Orange Free State. The purpose of the present study was to determine the host status of rock elephant shrews ( Elephantulus myurus) and Namaqua rock mice ( Aethomys namaquensis) for these ticks. Infestation levels were used as a criterion. The seasonal abundances of the ticks as well as the effects of landscape topography and sex of the host on infestation levels were also investigated. Incidental observations were made on the pouched mouse (Saccostomys campestris). No adult ticks were recovered from any of these small mammals. Seven tick species were found on the elephant shrews of which only Ixodes rubicundus and Rhipicephalus punctatus occurred in high numbers on a large proportion of the animals. Both these ticks cause paralysis in domestic stock. The Namaqua rock mice harboured eight tick species. Only Haemaphysalis leachi/spinulosa and R. punctatus had a relative abundance exceeding 15%. Three of the 10 pouched mice examined were infested with small numbers of ticks. The 132 rock elephant shrews examined harboured a mean total burden of 121 immature ticks compared to four on each of the 321 Namaqua rock mice. The larvae and nymphs of I. rubicundus occurred mainly in the colder months (April to September), while those of H. leachi/spinulosa preferred the warmer months (October to March). Large numbers of larvae of R. punctatus were present from December to July and nymphs from August to October. Infestation levels of I. rubicundus were consistently higher on animals trapped on southern slopes than on those trapped on northern slopes. The sex of the hosts seemed to have little effect on infestation levels

Attachment preferences of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on two sheep breeds

Hyalomma ticks were collected from Merino and black-headed Dorper sheep and their attachment preferences determined. The preferred site of attachment for Hyalomma marginatum rufipes on both Dorper and Merino sheep was the anogenital and inguinal areas (75-76%). On Dorper sheep, H. Truncatum attached predominantly to the anogenital and inguinal areas (67,7%). On Merino sheep, most adults of this species attached to the feet (26%). Almost equal percentages also attached to the anogenital/inguinal and brisket areas (21,6 and 22,9%, respectively). These differences should be considered when pour-on acaricides are applied to different breeds of sheep.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.mn201

The role of Hyalomma ticks in foot infestations and temporary lameness of sheep in a semi-arid region of South Africa

An outbreak of lameness amongst Merino lambs, associated with the presence of Hyalomma ticks, was investigated on a farm in the south-western Free State, South Africa. The purpose was to follow the progress of the condition and to determine the extent of involvement of the two Hyalomma species which occur in the region. The flock of experimental sheep (n = 460) ranged free in natural veld under extensive farming conditions. During September and October 1993, adult ewes and lambs in this flock were examined at weekly intervals to determine tick identity, abundance and attachment-site preferences on lame and unaffected animals. Lameness occurred only among lambs, of which 68 were affected during the 8-week period. Hyalomma ticks tended to aggregate and mean numbers of ticks/aggregation were significantly higher on lame lambs (mean = 11,3) than on either the unaffected lambs (mean = 6,9) or the ewes (mean = 7,1). Most tick aggregations (72,4%) on the lame lambs occurred on the lower legs and feet, 34 out of 55 of these on the fetlocks or interdigital clefts. Hyalomma truncatum dominated (> 97%) on all animals examined. Only 15,8% of the Hyalomma marginatum rufipes recovered from the lame animals were attached to the legs. At two other localities at which H. marginatum rufipes was more abundant, or even dominant, few ticks attached to the lower legs or feet. Those that did were mostly H. truncatum (> 90%). Both H. marginatum rufipes and H. truncatum may attach to the same ventral and anogenital body regions, but H. truncatum has a tendency to attach also to the feet and lower legs. Although attachment of one or a few ticks in the axillar region or upper legs may cause lameness in sheep, the attachment of ticks to the interdigital clefts and fetlocks almost always causes lameness. The latter condition is more likely to occur in regions where H. truncatum dominates.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.University of the Orange Free State. Foundation for Research Development. Poliomyelitis Research Foundation.mn201

Seasonal dynamics of the Karoo paralysis tick (Ixodes rubicundus): a comparative study on Merino and Dorper sheep

Karoo paralysis in South Africa is induced in livestock by feeding female Ixodes rubicundus ticks when infestation densities on hosts exceed certain critical levels. It has been shown previously that Angora goats are at a higher risk of being paralysed than Merino sheep, and such differences have been related to differences in feeding behaviour and spatial distribution of the two small-stock breeds. We hypothesized that differences in infestation densities with Karoo paralysis ticks would also occur between Merino and Dorper sheep breeds. A study was conducted under natural conditions in the south-western Free State, to compare infestation burdens of the two sheep breeds and also to investigate seasonal patterns and annual variations in terms of rainfall and temperature. Ten animals of each breed ran free in an area with a known history of Karoo paralysis and were examined on an approximately fortnightly basis, from March 1992 to December 1995, to determine tick abundance. Differences between the two breeds were significant (P < 0,05) during 1992 and 1993, but not during 1994. During the first two years, peak abundance of ticks was reached earlier in Dorper than in Merino sheep, and it also reached higher levels in Dorper than in Merino sheep (mean= 17,9 and 7,3, respectively). ln 1993, two Dorper, but no Merino sheep, were paralysed. Dorper sheep are clearly at a higher risk of being paralysed than are Merino sheep, and as such, they can serve as indicators of adult tick activity and hence of the time to commence prophylactic treatment. Differences between the two breeds are probably related to differences in grazing patterns. Marked variation in abundance and the time of onset of peak activity of I. rubicundus occurred over the years. Tick numbers were high in 1993 and 1995, but very low in 1992. In 1993, peak activity occurred earlier (April) than during the other years (June or July). These differences are related to differences in prevailing environmental conditions that influence tick activity in a complex manner. Heightened humidity and lower temperatures during the early stages of seasonal activity of the tick (April or May), normally result in peak abundance of ticks on hosts at that time.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat X Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Foundation for Research Development. University of the Orange Free State.mn201

Factors affecting the seasonal movements of Cape mountain zebras in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Factors underlying the movement of mountain zebras from a plateau in the summer to hill slopes and ravines in the winter were investigated. The movement was associated with a relative change in diet quality (as indicated by crude protein contents of preferred food plants and of the faeces) between the summer and winter habitats. In summer faecal and grass protein contents were higher in samples collected on the plateau than in those collected on the hill slopes. In the winter the reverse was the case. On the plateau the cover of grasses in the height range favoured by zebras changed only slightly from summer to winter. It thus seemed unlikely that the movement of zebras was caused by a seasonal change in the height structure of the grass sward. The diet comprised mostly grasses but traces of dicotyledons in the faeces were found more frequently during winter than summer

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXIX. Ixodid ticks on hares in the Cape Province and on hares and red rock rabbits in the Orange Free State

One hundred and seventeen scrub hares, Lepus saxatilis, were examined for ixodid ticks in various regions of the Cape Province. They were infested with 18 tick species and the seasonal abundances of the immature stages of Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma marmoreum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum and all stages of Rhipicephalus oculatus and the adults of a Rhipicephalus sp. (near R. oculatus) were determined. Seventy-two scrub hares on 3 farms in the Orange Free State harboured 10 ixodid tick species and the seasonal abundances of the immature stages of H. marginatum rufipes and Hyalomma truncatum and all stages of Rhipicephalus punctatus were determined. Thirty Cape hares, Lepus capensis, examined in the northern Cape Province harboured 5 tick species and the seasonal abundances of the immature stages of H. marginatum rufipes and H. truncatum were determined. Thirty-four Cape hares examined in the south-western Orange Free State carried 6 tick species and the seasonal abundance of immature H. marginatum rufipes was determined on these animals. Twenty-eight Smith's red rock rabbits examined on 2 farms in the south-western Orange Free State were infested with 7 tick species.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Medical Research Council. South African Nature Foundation. Foundation for Research Development. Department of Agricultural Development. Meat Board. Bayer Animal Health.mn201

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XIX. Ixodid ticks and fleas on rock dassies (Procavia capensis) in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Five or 6 rock dassies (Procavia capensis) were shot at monthly intervals for 13 consecutive months in the Mountain Zebra National Park and processed for arthropod parasite recovery. Ten species of ixodid ticks and 2 flea species were recovered. The seasonal prevalence of the rock dassie ticks, Haemaphysalis hyracophila and Rhipicephalus distinctus, and of the immature stages of Rhipicephalus arnoldi, a tick that usually infests the red rock rabbit (Pronolagus rupestris), was determined. Only 10 of the approximately 10 000 ticks recovered from the rock dassies belonged to species that may infest domestic livestock.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.National Parks Board. Meat Board. Rhodes University. CSIR

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXXI. Adult ixodid ticks on sheep in the Cape Province and in the Orange Free State

Four to 10 Dorper sheep on each of 12 farms in the Cape Province and 3 farms in the Orange Free State were examined for adult ixodid ticks at approximately 2- to 4-weekly intervals over periods varying from 4 to 18 months, commencing during January, February or April 1989. The farms in the Cape Province were located in the north-west, south-west and south of the province. Those in the Orange Free State were situated in the north-east and in the south. The sheep in the Cape Province harboured 10 species of ixodid ticks and the seasonal abundances of Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus gertrudae and Hyalomma truncatum were determined. The animals in the Orange Free State were infested with 7 tick species and the seasonal abundances of I. rubicundus, R. evertsi evertsi and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes were determined.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Bayer Animal Health. Foundation for Research Development.mn201

A method for the assessment of blackfly (Diptera: Simuliidae) attraction to and engorgement on sheep in South Africa

A suspended-net technique was used to capture blackflies attracted to and engorging on Dorper and Merino sheep on irrigated pastures. Two bait animals of each breed were restrained individually in wire-mesh enclosures located within four larger pens, each containing nine more animals of the same breed. Nets were suspended partly over the restrained animals and blackflies were collected at the end of 2-hour or longer periods. Mean numbers of blackflies captured in association with Merino (73,3/h) and Dorper sheep (89, 1 /h) did not differ significantly. Numbers of captured blackflies correlated (rho = 0,8361) with levels of irritation shown by sheep. Engorgement on Merinos was significantly (p = 0,009) higher than on Dorpers. Percentage engorgement was low, mostly below 10% on Merinos and below 5% on Dorpers. When high wind speeds and high saturation deficits (associated with temperatures in the mid-thirties) occurred, the success of capture was impaired. The technique is useful for quantifying the abundance of irritating blackflies in the immediate proximity of smallstock under experimental conditions.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Hoechst Ag-Vet (Pty) Ltd.mn201