Questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation of sable antelope and multi-herbivore enclosures in Thabazimbi

This survey of ixodid ticks was the first to compare the species composition and population dynamics of free-living ticks in intensive, sable antelope breeding enclosures, now commonplace in commercial wildlife ranching in South Africa, with those of multi-herbivore enclosures. The species composition, abundance and seasonal abundance of questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation in intensive breeding enclosures for sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), on which strategic tick control is practised, were compared with those of ticks in a multi-species herbivore enclosure surrounding the breeding enclosures in which no tick control is practised. A total of eight ixodid tick species were collected by drag-sampling the woodland and grassland habitats in each enclosure type monthly from July 2011 to July 2013. Rhipicephalus decoloratus, a potential vector of fatal tick-borne disease in sable antelopes, was the most abundant, accounting for 65.4% of the total number of ticks collected in the sable enclosures, whilst representing only 25.4% of number of ticks collected in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. Rhipicephalus decoloratus and R. evertsi evertsi were more abundant than R. appendiculatus (both p < 0.05) and Amblyomma hebraeum (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Rhipicephalus decoloratus larvae were collected throughout the year, with peak collections in November 2012 and October to December 2013 in the sable enclosures; and in April/May 2012 and February/April 2013 in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. More R. decoloratus were recovered in the second year than in the first year in the grassland habitat of the sable enclosures (V = 7.0, p < 0.05) possibly as a result of acaricide resistance. The apparent temporal over-abundance of R. decoloratus in sable antelope breeding enclosures, in the face of strategic tick control, is of concern and requires further investigation.http://www.jsava.co.zaam201

Questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation of sable antelope and multi-herbivore enclosures in Thabazimbi

This survey of ixodid ticks was the first to compare the species composition and population dynamics of free-living ticks in intensive, sable antelope breeding enclosures, now commonplace in commercial wildlife ranching in South Africa, with those of multi-herbivore enclosures. The species composition, abundance and seasonal abundance of questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation in intensive breeding enclosures for sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), on which strategic tick control is practised, were compared with those of ticks in a multi-species herbivore enclosure surrounding the breeding enclosures in which no tick control is practised. A total of eight ixodid tick species were collected by drag-sampling the woodland and grassland habitats in each enclosure type monthly from July 2011 to July 2013. Rhipicephalus decoloratus, a potential vector of fatal tick-borne disease in sable antelopes, was the most abundant, accounting for 65.4% of the total number of ticks collected in the sable enclosures, whilst representing only 25.4% of number of ticks collected in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. Rhipicephalus decoloratus and R. evertsi evertsi were more abundant than R. appendiculatus (both p < 0.05) and Amblyomma hebraeum (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Rhipicephalus decoloratus larvae were collected throughout the year, with peak collections in November 2012 and October to December 2013 in the sable enclosures; and in April/May 2012 and February/April 2013 in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. More R. decoloratus were recovered in the second year than in the first year in the grassland habitat of the sable enclosures (V = 7.0, p < 0.05) possibly as a result of acaricide resistance. The apparent temporal over-abundance of R. decoloratus in sable antelope breeding enclosures, in the face of strategic tick control, is of concern and requires further investigation.http://www.jsava.co.zaam201

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXXIII. Ixodid ticks on scrub hares in the north-eastern regions of Northern and Eastern Transvaal and of KwaZulu-Natal

Ixodid ticks were collected from scrub hares (Lepus saxatilis) at three localities. Nine tick species were recovered from 24 hares examined at Pafuri, Kruger National Park, Northern Transvaal. The most abundant and prevalent species were Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus kochi and a Rhipicephalus species (near R. pravus). Twelve tick species were collected from 120 scrub hares examined around Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Eastern Transvaal. The immature stages of Hyalomma truncatum were most abundant and those of Amblyomma hebraeum most prevalent on the hares. No haematozoa were found on blood smears made from these hares. Thirty-four scrub hares on mixed cattle and game farms near Hluhluwe, north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal harboured 12 tick species. The most abundant and prevalent of these were the immature stages of Rhipicephalus muehlensi. Piroplasms, tentatively identified as Babesia leporis, were present on blood smears of eight of these hares. The host status of scrub hares for 18 ixodid tick species or subspecies found in South Africa is tabulated.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.Foundation for Research Development. Bayer Animal Health.mn201

Species of questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation of sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) enclosures and a surrounding multi-herbivore enclosure

The aim of this study was to determine the species composition of questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation in intensive breeding enclosures for sable antelopes (Hippotragus niger), on which strategic tick control is practiced, and to compare it with that of questing ixodid ticks in a multi-species herbivore enclosure surrounding the breeding enclosures, and where no tick control is practiced. A total of eight ixodid tick species were collected namely, Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma marmoreum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus simus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis. A. marmoreum was only collected in the intensive breeding enclosures and H. elliptica only in the multiple herbivore species enclosure, whilst the remaining tick species were collected in both enclosures. The study was also designed to determine the abundance, seasonal abundance and proportion of ixodid tick larvae collected in the sable antelope breeding enclosures as well as in the multi-species herbivore enclosure and to compare the population dynamics of tick species in the respective enclosures with particular emphasis on R. decoloratus. R. decoloratus accounted for 65.4% of the total number ticks collected in the sable enclosures, whilst it represented only 24.3% of the total number of ticks collected in the multi-species herbivore camp. R. decoloratus was more abundant than A. hebraeum and R. appendiculatus in the woodlands of the sable antelope enclosures whilst R. decoloratus and R. evertsi evertsi were more abundant in grassland habitats of the sable antelope enclosures than both A. hebraeum and R. appendiculatus. R. decoloratus larvae were collected throughout the year with peak collections in November 2012 and between October and December 2013 in the sable breeding enclosures, and in April and May 2012 and February and April 2013 in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. The numbers of R. decoloratus larvae collected in the sable breeding enclosures increased significantly during the study period (p≤0.020).Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014.gm2014Veterinary Tropical Diseasesunrestricte

Ixodid tick infestations of wild birds and mammals on a game ranch in Central Province, Zambia

Ticks were collected at irregular intervals from December 1995 to November 1996 from wildlife on Mtendere Game Ranch in the Chisamba District of Central Province, Zambia. Total collections were made from two species of ground-nesting birds and 20 species of small and large mammals. Thirteen species/subspecies of ixodid ticks were recovered. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was the most abundant, followed by Boophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. Small numbers of immature ticks of only a few species were collected from the birds and rodents. The lagomorphs carried large numbers of predominantly immature R. appendiculatus. Most of the ungulates harboured several tick species and had high infestations of R. appendiculatus. The seasonal abundances of Amblyomma variegatum, B. decoloratus, R. appendiculatus and R. evertsi evertsi were determined.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.mn201