The geographic distribution of ticks in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province

The objective of the study was to determine the species composition and geographic distribution of ticks in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province. Ninety out of a total of 1 057 communal cattle dip-tanks in the region were selected by means of a table of random numbers, and 72 of these were eventually allocated to the survey. At each of the chosen dip-tanks an attempt was made to collect ticks from five cattle, five goats, five dogs and two hen coops, and free-living ticks from the vegetation by means of flannel strips, and ticks were collected from January 2004 and 2005 to May 2004 and May 2005 respectively. The geographic coordinates of the dip-tanks at which the ticks were collected were recorded, and used for plotting the distributions of the various tick species. The ticks were stored in 70 % ethyl alcohol in internally labelled vials for later identification and counting. Eleven ixodid tick species were collected from cattle, goats, dogs and the vegetation, namely Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Haemaphysalis spinulosa, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Ixodes pilosus group, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus simus. Of these R. e. evertsi and R. appendiculatus were the most numerous, and constituted 38.8 % and 34.9% of the 13 768 ticks collected respectively. They were followed by R. (B.) microplus (17.4 %) and A. hebraeum (5.3%). Two argasid tick species were collected, namely Otobius megnini from the ear canals of two cattle, and Argas walkerae from fowl houses. A. walkerae was collected from 102 (70.8%) of 144 fowl houses in the vicinity of 57 (79.2%) of the 72 selected dip-tanks, and seemed to be present only when there was wood in the structure of the fowl house. Adult A. hebraeum was present in areas where there are trees and bush as well as grass, particularly along the coast, but also surprisingly far inland beyond the distribution limits previously illustrated for it. R. (B.) microplus, R. appendiculatus and R. e. evertsi were present throughout the survey area region, and from their distribution maps there are strong indications that the exotic R. (B.) microplus is displacing the indigenous R. (B.) decoloratus in this region. A large percentage of goats were infested with the adults of ticks normally associated with cattle, namely A. hebraeum, R. (B.) microplus, R. appendiculatus and R. e. evertsi. A more significant finding, however, is the large proportion of R. (B.) microplus females measuring 5 mm or more in length on the goats, a good indication that they were successfully completing their life cycles. In the light of these findings, it is imperative to include goats in any tick control programme aimed at controlling a tick-borne disease outbreak in sympatric cattle. Eight ixodid tick species were collected from the dogs, and H. elliptica, followed by R. appendiculatus and R. simus were present on these animals at the largest number of dip-tanks. The kennel tick R. sanguineus, a parasite of dogs in urban environments, was collected from dogs only at two localities.Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Veterinary Tropical DiseasesMScunrestricte

Displacement of Rhipicephalus decoloratus by Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari : Ixodidae) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The objective of the study was to establish to what extent the native tick species Rhipicephalus decoloratus had been displaced by the invasive introduced tick, Rhipicephalus microplus at two communally grazed areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. To this end ticks were collected monthly from 5 cattle over a period of 2 years and from 10 drag-samples of the vegetation over a period of one year at each locality. Whereas 10 years previously only R. decoloratus and no R. microplus had been recorded in the vicinity of the two sites, R. microplus now comprised the bulk of collections at both. Furthermore, significantly greater numbers of R. microplus were collected from cattle at both localities during the 2nd year of the survey than during the 1st (P<0.05 and P<0.01). In addition to 83 instances of intraspecific coupling, there were 17 instances of R. microplus males coupled with R. decoloratus females. Collections made from cattle and goats on 2 farms close to the study sites revealed that R. microplus was present on both host species and that it significantly outnumbered R. decoloratus on one of the farms (P<0.001). R. decoloratus and R. microplus larvae as well as larvae exhibiting characteristics of both species were collected from the vegetation.National Research Foundation of South Africa.http://www.springerlink.com/content/100158/hb2013ab201

Acaricide resistance of Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks collected from communal grazing cattle in South Africa

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks collected from grazing cattle between November 2018 and May 2019 in Elundini, Senqu, and Walter Sisulu Local Municipalities in the northeastern region of the Eastern Cape Province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 20–30 adult engorged female R. decoloratus ticks were collected from at least 10 randomly selected cattle (highly tick-infested) at each dip tank and placed into the labelled plastic collection bottles containing absorbent paper and with a perforated lid at a constant room temperature of ±28°C and >70% relative humidity until resistance testing commenced. The Shaw larval immersion test method was used to determine R. decoloratus larvae resistance to various acaricide concentration levels [amidines, organophosphate (OP), and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs)]. RESULTS: This study found that most ticks were susceptible to exposure to different acaricide field concentrations of amidines (49% at 250 ppm), OPs (33% and 47% at 300 ppm and 500 ppm, respectively), and SPs (44% and 23% at 150 ppm and 300 ppm, respectively). The resistance testing resultsshowed no resistance to amidines at any localities and no resistance to OP in the Senqu region. However, resistance development of the larvae to amines, OPs, and SPs was extensively observed in Senqu (18%, 6%, and 7%), Elundini (15%, 15%, and 17%), and Walter Sisulu (13%, 19%, and 9%) regions, respectively. CONCLUSION: The larvae’sresistance is a cause for worry. Hence, the continuous monitoring of tick resistance to commonly used acaricides will help mitigate widespread acaricidal resistance and sustain livestock productivity.National Research Foundation, South Africa (NRF).https://bdvets.orgVeterinary Tropical Disease

First record of the pantropical blue tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Namibia

The invasive pantropical blue tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, has recently been collected from cattle in Namibia. A cross-sectional study aimed at recording the geographic distribution of Rhipicephalus decoloratus and establishing whether R. microplus is present in Namibia was conducted towards the end of summer (March–April) 2013. Ticks were collected from cattle on 18 privately owned farms across a large geographical scale. Ticks were collected from three to five cattle per farm and species belonging to the genera Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus were recovered. Rhipicephalus decoloratus was present on all farms and R. microplus was recorded on four of the farms. The small numbers of R. microplus compared to R. decoloratus collected in the mixed infestations, suggests that the introduction events were recent.Stellenbosch University and the National Research Foundation (IFR2011032500004)http://link.springer.com/journal/10493hb2013ab201

Ticks on pastures and on two breeds of cattle in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Many studies on the population dynamics of questing ticks on pastures and of parasitic ticks on cattle have been conducted. Few, however, have attempted to link the two in a single study. This study aimed to assess the population dynamics of questing ixodid ticks on pastures and of adult ticks on two breeds of cattle with different levels of susceptibility to tick infestation on the same pastures. Between January 2005 and December 2009 questing ixodid ticks were collected monthly from natural pastures at the Döhne Agricultural Development Institute and at the adjacent Campagna Production System in the Amahlathi District, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Between February 2007 and January 2010 adult ticks were collected monthly from Bonsmara and Nguni cattle grazing these pastures. Ten tick species were collected from the pastures and 12 from the cattle. Significantly more questing larvae of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus microplus were recovered from the pastures grazed by Bonsmara cattle than from those grazed by Nguni cattle (p ≤ 0.05). Significantly more adult Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus follis, R. appendiculatus, R. decoloratus, R. evertsi evertsi and R. microplus were collected from the Bonsmara cattle than from the Nguni cattle (p ≤ 0.05). The study showed that Nguni cattle are less susceptible to tick infestation than are Bonsmara cattle and fewer questing ticks are collected from pastures grazed by Nguni cattle than by Bonsmara cattle.The study was funded by the University of Pretoria, Bayer Animal Health, the National Research Foundation and the Institute for Tropical Medicine, Belgium.http://www.ojvr.or

In search of the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in the western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is an economically important tick that parasitises cattle and is found on other host species if they graze with cattle. The R. (B.) microplus is a highly adapted tick species prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Africa, it has expanded its range and was reported to supersede the native tick, R. (B.) decoloratus. The objective of the study was to determine the distribution of R. (B.) microplus under different ecological zones in the western-central regions of Eastern Cape Province. Engorged adult blue ticks were collected monthly from 360 randomly selected cattle and free living ticks from six replicate drags of the vegetation over a period of 1 year at Bedford Dry Grassland (BDG), Kowie Thicket (KT) and Bhisho Thornveld (BT). A special attention was paid to the lower perineum, neck, dewlap and ventral body parts which are the preferred sites for blue ticks during sampling. In this study, 9 species of ticks which grouped under 5 genera were identified. The identified species of ticks were Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Hyalomma rufipes, Ixodes pilosus, R. (B.) decoloratus, R. appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi, R. follis and R. simus. Only adult R. (B.) decoloratus (n = 8090) ticks were collected from cattle between April 2016 and March 2017. A total of 4382 females and 3708 males of R. (B.) decoloratus were recovered during the survey. Of the ticks (n = 2885) collected from the vegetation, R. (B.) decoloratus was the most abundant species with a relative prevalence of 58.16%, followed by R. appendiculatus (18.37%) and R. evertsi evertsi (16.90%). Least abundant ticks were H. rufipes (2.98%), A. hebraeum (2.46%), H. elliptica (0.38%), R. follis (0.34%), I. pilosus (0.24%) and R. simus (0.17%). The distribution of R. (B.) decoloratus ticks differ significantly (P < 0.05) among the vegetation types. Significantly more (P < 0.05) engorged R. (B.) decoloratus were collected in KT during summer season (1.39 ± 0.063 females and 1.30 ± 0.063 males) compared to other vegetation types. The R. (B.) decoloratus larvae were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in BT (20.56±1.154) and KT (18.50±1.154) vegetation types during the spring season. R. (B.) microplus was not found in the present study, signifying that it is not yet established in western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province and as such, continuous monitoring would be advisable.The National Research Foundation (Grant number: 102941).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ttbdis2020-04-01hj2019Production Animal Studie

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevalence of sheep scab among communal sheep farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Background and Aim: Sheep scab is one of the most contagious diseases of sheep found in rural communities worldwide and is a major health and welfare concern for sheep farming. Information on the attitudes of communal farmers to sheep scab remains speculative in the Eastern Cape Province. This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevalence of sheep scab among communal sheep farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Materials and Methods: From June to August 2022, a cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire (n = 160) was conducted in two rural communities of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in Eastern Cape Province. Purpose sampling was used to obtain respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and management practices regarding sheep scabs. Results: Among respondents, 81% were males and 19% were females. The majority of sheep farmers (59%) in both communities were aware of sheep scabs, but the majority (64%) did not receive any farming training. The majority of sheep farmers (65%) believed that sheep scab was the most serious threat to their sheep production since it increased mortality. In the past 3 years, approximately 57% of respondents reported an increase in the prevalence of sheep scab. The majority of farmers reported wool loss as the most noticeable clinical symptom (73%). More than 80% of sheep farmers do not use acaricide on a regular basis. Sixty-one percent of farmers prefer a pour-on topical application method. The frequency of annual dipping was every fortnight (40%), during summer and winter (24%). Most farmers (66%) regularly vaccinate their sheep. Conclusion: The prevalence of sheep scab is increasing in these communities; however, a better understanding of the factors that facilitate its transmission is required to allow improved management and control of this disease. The government must involve extension officers and distribute them to disseminate information to farmers. Thus, it will be easy to translate the literature into action

Ticks, demographics, vegetation cover, and farmer’s age influence red meat production in resource-poor regions of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

This study presents an integrated examination of livestock production constraints associating with communal farming in six district municipalities (DMs) of the Eastern Cape Province. We collected data on demographic and socio-economic factors from 271 farmers randomly given questionnaires. About 26 Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) owned by communal farmers were surveyed to ascertain the condition of grazing land, meanwhile, tick species and distribution on cattle and goats found in 158 sampling sites of the study area were also recorded. From the results, a total of 34,929 adult ticks belonging to five genera and 10 species were encountered. The most abundant tick genera were Rhipicephalus of the subgenus Boophilus (68.91%), Amblyomma (20.72%), Hyalomma (8.64%), Ixodes (1.22%), and Haemaphysalis (0.51%). By geographic distributions, Am-blyomma and Rhipicephalus were common to all DMs, while R. microplus and R. decoloratus were found in the drier regions. From the map plotted for 16 custom feeding centers, lack of marketing channels (23%), poor animal conditions (20%), lack of infrastructure (19%), high price of medicine (14%), shortage of feed (10%), stock theft (8%), and age of animals (too old) to be marketed (6%) are the major shortcomings in red meat production. We found that the associations between gender (χ 2 = 31.3481, p < 0.0001), age (χ 2 = 32.4889, p < 0.0001), and farming experience (χ 2 = 52.7556, p < 0.0001) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher. Additionally, we found that farming commodities were significantly influenced by gender and farming experience. From the surveyed LRAD farms, we observed a higher proportion of increaser II grass species in Alfred Nzo (55.6%), Amathole (53.9%), and Chris Hani (46.4%) DMs. On the other hand, the decreaser grass species were few in Alfred Nzo (16.5%), Amathole (13.8%), and Chris Hani (21.8%). Inferences from the data indicate the need for government and stakeholders’ intervention to farmers through the provision of infrastructures, marketing channels, and training on livestock based programs.http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojasam2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

Distribution and ecology of economically important ticks on cattle, with special reference to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and Namibia

Thesis (PhDAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are parasites of major economic and medical importance that transmit a multitude of pathogenic organisms affecting domestic animals globally and in South Africa. High tick infestations are associated with skin damage, tick worry, reduced growth and milk production, transmission of tick-borne pathogens and mortalities. The aims of the study were to: (1) investigate the effect of vegetation type (Albany Coastal Belt, Amathole Montane Grassland, Bhisho Thornveld and Great Fish Thicket) on the tick species composition and diversity on cattle and on the vegetation on communal farms in the south-west region of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP), (2) obtain baseline data on the perceptions of cattle farmers with regard to ticks, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and the management practices being used on communal farms in the ECP and (3) record the geographic distribution of an alien invasive tick, Rhipicephalus microplus and the closely related endemic species Rhipicephalus decolaratus in the environmentally less optimal south-western and north-western regions of South Africa and in Namibia. The study was conducted at two scales: local (ECP) and regional (South Africa and Namibia). At a local scale, ticks were collected from cattle (adult and calves) and from the vegetation from five localities in each of four vegetation types. Ticks were removed from one-side of each animal (n = 1000) and replicated drag-sampling was performed at each locality, to record the ticks on vegetation. In addition, at each locality five cattle owners were randomly selected to participate in a questionnaire study. Face-to face interviews were carried. A total of 100 individual questionnaires were completed (25 in each of the four vegetation types). At a regional scale, ticks were collected through active tick removal from cattle and by passive citizen-science approach where tick samples were provided by private cattle farmers solicited via social media. Cattle (n = 415) were examined in the Western-, Eastern- and Northern Cape and Free State Province in South Africa and in Namibia (n = 18). About 20 212 ticks belonging to 12 species were collected from adult cattle, calves and on vegetation at the 20 communal localities. Vegetation type did not consistently affect tick abundance, species richness or species composition, though there were differences in the abundance of individual tick species. The abundance of R. e. evertsi was significantly higher on cattle in Thornveld and Thicket compared to Coastal belt and Grassland, while A. hebreaum was significantly more abundant on the vegetation in Coastal belt compared to Thornveld and absent in Grassland. The effect of individual villages on tick infestations was more important than vegetation types. Tick abundance and species richness was higher on adult cattle compared to calves. In terms of farmer perceptions, significantly more respondents confirmed that adult animals were more affected by ticks compared to calves. All of the respondents identified redwater as the commonest TBDs, followed by gallsickness (90%) and heartwater (43%). For the geographic distribution of R. microplus, a total of 8 408 Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. ticks were recovered from cattle in SA. R. microplus extended its range to new areas for the first time in the Northern Cape Province and the western regions of the Eastern- and Western Cape Provinces. In Namibia, R. microplus was recorded for the first time with 142 adult R. microplus collected from 20 cattle on four farms, whereas R. decoloratus was present on all 18 of the survey farms in Namibia. Evident from the study is that the concern of communal cattle farmers in the ECP about ticks and TBDs is supported with field-based studies. The patterns of tick infestation observed in the present study seems to be the result of a combination of factors that include amongst others the uncontrolled movement of cattle within SA and between SA and Namibia, the development of acariside resistance and the highly adaptable nature of the invasive Asiatic tick.AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Bosluise (Acari: Ixodidae) is parasiete van groot ekonomiese en mediese belang wat verskei patogene aan huis- en plaasdiere oor dra. Hoë bosluis besmetting hou verband met vel beskadiging, verminderde groei van diere en melkproduksie, oordrag van bosluis-oordraagbare patogene en sterftes. Die doelwitte van die studie was om: (1) die effek van plantegroei tipe (Albany kusstrook, Amathole berggrasveld, Bhisho Doringveld en Groot Vis- bos) op die bosluisspesies samestelling en diversiteit op beeste en op die plantegroei op kommunale plase in die suidweste streek van die Oos-Kaap (OK) te bepaal, (2) basislyndata op die persepsies en kennis van beesboere met betrekking tot bosluise, bosluisoorgedraagde siektes (BOSs) en die bestuurspraktyke wat gebruik word op kommunale plase in die OK te verkry en (3) die geografiese verspreiding van 'n uitheemse bosluisspesie, Rhipicephalus microplus en die naverwante endemiese spesies Rhipicephalus decolaratus in minder optimale suidwestelike en noordwestelike streke van Suid-Afrika en in Namibië aan te teken. Die studie is uitgevoer op twee skale: plaaslik (OK) en streeks (Suid-Afrika en Namibië). Op 'n plaaslike skaal, is bosluise van beeste (volwasse en kalwers) en van die plantegroei van vyf lokaliteite in elk van vier plantegroeitipes versamel. Bosluise is van die een kant van elke dier (n = 1000) versamel en herhaalde sleep-opnames is uitgevoer by elke lokaliteit, om die bosluise op die plantegroei aan te teken. Daarbenewens, by elke lokaliteit is vyf bees-eienaars ewekansig gekies om deel te neem in 'n vraelys-studie. Aangesig tot aangesig onderhoude is gevoer. 'n Totaal van 100 vraelyste is voltooi (25 in elk van die vier tipes plantegroei). Op 'n streeks skaal is bosluise ingesamel deur middel van aktiewe bosluis verwydering van beeste en deur passiewe burger-wetenskap benadering waar bosluise verskaf is deur private beesboere. Beeste (n = 415) was geondersoekte in die Wes-, Oos- en Noord-Kaap en Vrystaat in Suid-Afrika en in Namibië (n = 18). Die resultate is soos volg, sowat 20 212 bosluise wat deel uitmaak van 12 spesies is versamel van volwasse beeste, kalwers en op plantegroei by die 20 kommunale lokaliteite. Plantegroei tipe het nie deurgans ‘n invloed op spesierykheid of spesiesamestelling gehad nie. Daar was egter verskille tussen individuele bosluisspesies. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was aansienlik hoër op beeste in Bhisho Doringveld en Groot Vis-bos in vergelyking met Albany kusstrook en Amathole berggrasveld, terwyl Ablyomma hebraeum aansienlik meer volop was op Albany kusstrook in vergelyking met Bhisho Doringveld en afwesig in Amathole berggrasveld. Die effek van individuele dorpe op bosluis besmetting was belangriker as plantegroeitipes. Bosluis getalle en spesierykheid was hoër op volwasse beeste in vergelyking met kalwers. In terme van die persepsies en kennis van kommunale beesboerer het aansienlik meer respondente bevestig dat volwasse diere meer geraak word deur bosluise in vergelyking met kalwers. Al die respondente het gemerk dat rooiwater die algemeenste BOSs is, gevolg deur galsiekte (90%) en hartwater (43%). Die studie wat gefokus het op die geografiese verspreiding van R. microplus het 'n totaal van 8 408 Rhipicephalus spp. bosluise van beeste in SA verhaal. Daar is gevind dat R. microplus se verspreiding uitgebrei het en die spesie kom vir die eerste keer in die Noord-Kaap Provinsie en die westelike streke van die Oos- en Wes-Kaap voor. In Namibië is R. microplus vir die eerste keer aangeteken. Meer as 100 volwasse R. microplus is versamel van 20 beeste op vier plase, terwyl R. decoloratus teenwoordig was op al 18 van die plase in Namibië. Uit die studie blyk dit dat die kommer van kommunale veeboere in die OK oor bosluise en BOSs ondersteun word deur veld-studies. Die patrone van bosluis besmetting wat waargeneem is in die huidige studie blyk die gevolg te wees van 'n kombinasie van faktore. Dit sluit onder andere die onbeheerde beweging van vee in SA en tussen SA en Namibië, die ontwikkeling van weerstand, teen bosluis-beheer middels, en die hoogs aanpasbaar aard van die indringer Asiatiese bosluis in.National Research Foundatio

Goats as alternative hosts of cattle ticks

The objective of this study was to compare the presence on goats and cattle of adult ticks that usually infest cattle. To this end ticks collected from sets of five goats were compared with those collected from sets of five cattle at 72 communal dip-tanks in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province. Amblyomma hebraeum was present on goats at 25 and on cattle at 39 dip-tanks, and a total of 61 goats and 138 cattle were infested. Adult Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was present on goats at 48 and on cattle at 69 dip-tanks, and a total of 113 goats and 242 cattle were infested. The lengths of 84 of 148 female R. (Boophilus) microplus collected from the goats exceeded 5 mm or more, indicating that they could successfully engorge on these animals. The differences between the proportions of dip-tanks at which A. hebraeum or R. (Boophilus) microplus was present on goats and cattle and also between the proportions of goats and cattle that were infested were significant (Chi square test, P < 0.01). Adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was present on goats at 70 and on cattle at 67 dip-tanks, and a total of 296 goats and 271 cattle were infested. The proportion of dip-tanks at which cattle were infested did not differ significantly from the proportion of tanks at which goats were infested (Fischer's exact probability test, P = 0.44), but the proportion of infested cattle was significantly lower than the proportion of infested goats (Chi-square test, P < 0.05). Adult Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was present on goats and cattle at all 72 sampling localities, and a total of 334 goats and 316 cattle were infested. The proportion of infested cattle was significantly lower than the proportion of infested goats (Chi-square test, P < 0.05). These results underscore the necessity of including goats in any tick control programme designed for cattle at the same locality