Some avian and mammalian hosts of Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma marmoreum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Large numbers of birds, wild mammals and domestic stock from a variety of localities within the Republic of South Africa were examined for infestation with the ixodid ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma marmoreum. Every warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) from the Kruger National Park in the north-eastern Transvaal Lowveld was infested with A. hebraeum. In the eastern Cape Province every helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), scrub hare (Lepus saxatilis) and kudu from the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve; all but 1 of the 22 domestic cattle examined on the farm "Bucklands"; and all Angora goats plus nearly all Boer goats examined on the farm "Brakhill" were infested with this tick. Most animals examined appeared to be good hosts of the immature stages, and the larger the host species the greater the chances of it harbouring large numbers of adult ticks. The largest animals examined, such as eland, buffalo, giraffe and rhinoceros, harboured very large numbers of adult A. hebraeum. No adult A. marmoreum was recovered from any host. However, 50% or more of helmeted guinea fowl and kudu from the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve; helmeted guinea fowl, scrub hares and eland (Taurotragus oryx) from the Mountain Zebra National Park; helmeted guinea fowl, kudu, domestic sheep, goats and cattle on the farm "Bucklands", and caracal (Felis caracal) from the Cradock and Southwell areas of the eastern Cape Province were infested with immature A. marmoreum. In the Bontebok National Park in the south-western Cape Province more than 35% of scrub hares, vaal ribbok (Pelea capreolus) and bontebok (Damaliscus dorcas dorcas) were infested with immature ticks.     

Some wild hosts of the Karoo paralysis tick, Ixodes rubicundus Neumann, 1904 (Acari: Ixodidae)

A variety of mammal and bird species in the Mountain Zebra National Park, eastern Cape Province, were examined for Ixodes rubicundus. In addition, caracal (Felis caracal) from the park and its vicinity as well as from the Graaff-Reinet region of the Karoo were examined. Amongst the animals collected, the red rock rabbit (Pronolagus rupestris) was a preferred host of the immature stages of the tick. Caracal were moderately good hosts of these stages and, with mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) and eland (Taurotragus oryx), are the preferred hosts of adult ticks.     

Species composition and geographic distribution of ticks infesting cattle, goats and dogs in a temperate and in a subtropical region of south-east Africa

The species and distribution of ticks infesting cattle, goats and dogs in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and Maputo Province, Mozambique were determined from collections made from these animals at 72 localities in the former region and 30 in the latter. Eleven ixodid and one argasid species were recovered in the Eastern Cape Province and 15 ixodid species in Maputo Province. The most common ticks infesting cattle and goats in both provinces were Amblyomma hebraeum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. The dominant species on dogs were Haemaphysalis elliptica and Rhipicephalus simus. The geographic distributions of the major species and some of the minor species in both regions were plotted. The partial or complete displacement of the indigenous tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus by the introduced species R. (B.) microplus was a major feature of both surveys.     

Ixodid ticks on domestic dogs in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa and in Namibia

The objective of this study was to determine the species composition of ixodid ticks infesting domestic dogs in the northwestern region of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa and in Namibia. Ticks were collected from February 2008 to January 2009 from dogs presented for a variety of reasons at a veterinary clinic in the Northern Cape Province and at 3 clinics in Namibia. The ticks collected at each place were pooled separately for each month at each locality. Eleven ixodid tick species were collected from dogs in the Northern Cape Province and new locality records for Haemaphysalis colesbergensis and Ixodes rubicundus, new locality and host records for Hyalomma glabrum, and a new host record for Rhipicephalus neumanni are reported. Six tick species were collected from dogs at the 3 clinics in Namibia. The most numerous species on dogs in both countries was R. sanguineus. The present results increase the total number of ixodid tick species collected from dogs in South Africa from 25 to 28.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXVI. The mosaic of ixodid tick infestations on birds and mammals in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Sixteen species of ixodid ticks were collected over varying periods of time from 6 species of ground-frequenting birds and 15 species of small and large mammals in the Mountain Zebra National Park, Karoo, Cape Province. Margaropus winthemi followed by Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi were the most abundant species. The host preferences of 14 tick species and the seasonal abundances of 13 species were determined. Small numbers of immature stages of only a few tick species were generally recovered from ground-frequenting birds, mice and rats. Amongst the slightly larger animals the smallest number of ticks and species were recovered from springhares and the largest numbers from scrub hares. Amongst the larger mammals, very few ticks were harboured by springbuck and black wildebeest, while heavy infestations of several species were encountered on Cape mountain zebras and eland.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXIII. Helminth and arthropod parasites of warthogs, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, in the eastern Transvaal Lowveld

A total of 69 warthogs, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, were collected from 4 localities within the Kruger National Park, eastern Transvaal Lowveld. These animals harboured 16 nematode species, 2 trematodes, 1 or 2 species of adult cestodes and the larval stages of 4 cestodes. No pattern of seasonal abundance could be determined for any of the helminths. The warthogs were also infested with 3 flea species, 1 louse species, 8 ixodid tick species, 1 argasid tick and the nymphae of a pentastomid. The seasonal abundance of fleas of the genus Echidnophaga, of the sucking louse Haematopinus phacochoeri and the ixodid ticks Amblyomma hebraeum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus simus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis was determined.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXV. Ixodid ticks on sheep in the north-eastern Orange Free State and in the eastern Cape Province

The tick burdens of 115 Merino sheep, slaughtered over a period of 15 consecutive months on a farm in the north-eastern Orange Free State, were determined. A total of 7 ixodid and 1 argasid tick species were recovered and the seasonal abundances of Boophilus decoloratus, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Margaropus winthemi and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi were determined. One hundred and forty-nine Merino sheep were slaughtered over periods varying from 10 to 25 months on 3 farms in Eastern Province Thornveld in the eastern Cape Province and their tick burdens determined. Fourteen ixodid tick species were recovered from these animals and the seasonal abundances of Amblyomma marmoreum, B. decoloratus, Haemaphysalis silacea, R. evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus nitens were ascertained. On a farm in Valley Bushveld in the eastern Cape Province, 2 Dorper sheep were slaughtered each month for a period of 24 consecutive months. These 48 sheep harboured 10 ixodid tick species and the seasonal abundances of A. marmoreum, H. silacea, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum were determined. A total of 17 ixodid tick species, of which 12 had reached the adult stage, where recovered from the sheep on the 5 farms.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XLIII. Ixodid ticks of domestic dogs and cats in the Western Cape Province

Ticks were collected at monthly intervals for 16 consecutive months from individual dogs by their owners in or close to the town of Stellenbosch, Western Cape Province. They were also collected for 27 consecutive months from dogs presented for a variety of reasons at three veterinary clinics in Stellenbosch, and from dogs upon admission to an animal welfare shelter. At one of the veterinary clinics ticks were also collected from cats. Dog owners collected six ixodid species from their pets and the most numerous of these were Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus gertrudae. Twelve ixodid tick species and the argasid tick, Otobius megnini were collected from dogs at veterinary clinics and the animal shelter, and H. leachi, R. gertrudae and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were the most numerous. A total of nine dogs were infested with the Karoo paralysis tick, Ixodes rubicundus. No clear pattern of seasonality was evident for H. leachi, which was present throughout the year. The largest numbers of adult R. gertrudae were generally present from August to October, while adult R. sanguineus were collected during October 2000, February and March 2001, from January to April 2002 and during October 2002. Five ixodid tick species, of which H. leachi was the most numerous and prevalent, were collected from cats.     

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.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXVII. Ticks on helmeted guineafowls in the eastern Cape Province and eastern Transvaal Lowveld

Seventy-six helmeted guineafowls (Numida meleagris) were shot in the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve and on an adjacent farm in the eastern Cape Province during the period May 1985 to January 1987 and their tick burdens determined. A total of 10 ixodid tick species were recovered, of which Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma marmoreum and Haemaphysalis silacea were the most abundant. The seasonal abundances of these 3 species and of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes were ascertained. A marked difference between the total number of A. hebraeum recovered from the birds in the reserve and those on the farm is ascribed to the treatment of domestic stock on the farm with an acaricide. The tick burdens of 118 helmeted guineafowls, shot in the southern part of the Kruger National Park, eastern Transvaal Lowveld, from August 1988 to August 1990, were also determined. Ten ixodid tick species and the larvae of an argasid species were recovered. A. hebraeum, A. marmoreum and the Argas sp. were the most abundant and their seasonal abundances and that of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis were determined. Only 2 of the 54,659 ixodid ticks recovered from the birds at the 3 localities were adults and the presence of these is ascribed to accidental infestations.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XX. Arthropod parasites of the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra)

The arthropod parasite burdens of 14 Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra), shot for survey purposes in the Mountain Zebra National Park in the eastern Cape Province, were determined. Three species of Gasterophilus larvae and 9 ixodid tick species were recovered. Larvae of Gasterophilus pecorum were the most numerous of the fly larvae recovered and Margaropus winthemi was the most abundant tick. Two horses examined in the park were infested with 3 species of Gasterophilus larvae and 7 species of ixodid ticks.     

Ixodid ticks on dogs in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The objective of this study was to determine the species composition and geographic distribution of ixodid ticks infesting domestic dogs in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province. Seventy-two communal cattle dip-tanks within this region were randomly selected as survey localities and their geographic coordinates recorded. In addition to ticks that were collected from five cattle and five goats at each of the dip-tanks, ticks were also collected from five dogs whenever possible. No dogs were available at 19 dip-tanks and no ticks were collected from dogs at 13 dip-tanks, while ticks were collected from 132 of 200 dogs at 40 dip-tanks. Eight ixodid tick species were collected from these dogs, and Haemaphysalis leachi followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus simus were present on dogs at the largest number of dip-tanks. Seven dogs were simultaneously infested with three tick species and one with four species. The geographic distributions of Amblyomma hebraeum, H. leachi, R. appendiculatus and R. simus recovered from the dogs lay within the ranges previously reported for these ticks.     

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 and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes were determined.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXX. Ectoparasites of kudus in the eastern Transvaal Lowveld and the eastern Cape Province.

Sets of four kudus were shot and examined for arthropod parasites at approximately monthly intervals from April 1981 to March 1983 in the southern part of the Kruger National Park, eastern Transvaal Lowveld. These animals harboured 10 ixodid tick species of which Boophilus decoloratus followed by Amblyomma hebraeum were the most abundant. The seasonal abundances of these ticks and of Amblyomma marmoreum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis were determined. The kudus were also infested with 3 lice and 1 louse fly species, as well as the nymphs of a pentastomid. Sixteen kudus were shot in the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve, eastern Cape Province and 9 on an adjacent farm. These animals were infested with 12 tick species. A. hebraeum followed by Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum were the most abundant on kudus in the reserve and R. glabroscutatum followed by Haemaphysalis silacea on the animals on the farm. The seasonal abundances of A. hebraeum, A. marmoreum, H. silacea, R. appendiculatus, R. glabroscutatum and a Rhipicephalus sp. (near R. oculatus) were determined on the kudus in the reserve. The kudus were also infested with 3 lice and 1 louse fly species. Two kudus examined in the Addo Elephant National Park were infested with 6 tick, 1 louse and 1 louse fly species.     

Ixodid ticks on dogs in southern Mozambique

The objective of this study was to determine the species and distribution of ticks infesting domestic dogs in southern Mozambique. To this end 89 collections were taken from dogs and the geographic coordinates of the localities at which they were made noted. Fifty-eight of these collections were from animals in the city of Maputo and 16 from animals at rural settlements close to Maputo. A further 15 collections were made from dogs in rural environments north of Maputo. Ten ixodid tick species, of which one was only identified to genus level, were recovered. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most numerous of the ten species, and its prevalence and intensity of infestation were significantly higher on city dogs than on rural dogs (P < 0.01), whereas the converse was true for Haemaphysalis leachi (P < 0.01). Including the city of Maputo, the exact localities at which nine tick species were collected, were recorded.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XVIII. The crowned guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), an important host of immature ixodid ticks

The tick burdens of 10 crowned guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), shot at approximately 3-monthly intervals in the Mountain Zebra National Park, and of 21 crowned guinea fowl from the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve, the majority of which were shot at monthly intervals, were determined. No adult ticks were recovered from any of the guinea fowl. The birds in the Mountain Zebra National Park harboured 4 species of ixodid ticks of which Amblyomma marmoreum was the most abundant and most prevalent. Three birds also harboured Hyalomma marginatum turanicum. Six ixodid tick species were present on guinea fowl in the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve. Of these Amblyomma hebraeum was the most abundant and all the birds were infested. Most of these birds were also infested with A. marmoreum and Haemaphysalis silacea and some harboured Hyalomma marginatum rufipes. The seasonal abundance of ticks on crowned guinea fowl is discussed.     

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.     

Small mammals as hosts of immature ixodid ticks

Two hundred and twenty-five small mammals belonging to 16 species were examined for ticks in Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa, and 18 ixodid tick species, of which two could only be identified to genus level, were recovered. Scrub hares, Lepus saxatilis, and Cape hares, Lepus capensis, harboured the largest number of tick species. In Free State Province Namaqua rock mice, Aethomys namaquensis, and four-striped grass mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, were good hosts of the immature stages of Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus gertrudae, while in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces red veld rats, Aethomys chrysophilus, Namaqua rock mice and Natal multimammate mice, Mastomys natalensis were good hosts of H. leachi and Rhipicephalus simus. Haemaphysalis leachi was the only tick recovered from animals in all three provinces.     

Ecological preferences of exophilic and endophilic ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing wild carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

Ticks parasitizing wild carnivores and the tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) that they transmit may affect domestic carnivores and humans. Thus, investigating the role of wild carnivores as tick hosts is of relevance for understanding the life cycle of ticks in natural foci and the epidemiology of TBPs shared with domestic animals and humans. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the ixodid tick fauna of wild carnivores in Peninsular Spain and the environmental factors driving the risk of wild carnivores to be parasitized by ixodid ticks. We hypothesized that the adaptation of tick species to differing climatic conditions may be reflected in a similar parasitization risk of wild carnivores by ticks between bioclimatic regions in our study area. To test this, we surveyed ixodid ticks in wild carnivores in oceanic, continental-Mediterranean, and thermo-Mediterranean bioclimatic regions of Peninsular Spain. We analyzed the influence of environmental factors on the risk of wild carnivores to be parasitized by ticks by performing logistic regression models. Models were separately performed for exophilic and endophilic ticks under the expected differing influence of environmental conditions on their life cycle. We found differences in the composition of the tick community parasitizing wild carnivores from different bioclimatic regions. Modelling results partially confirmed our null hypothesis because bioclimatic region was not a relevant factor influencing the risk of wild carnivores to be parasitized by exophilic ticks. Bioclimatic region was however a factor driving the risk of wild carnivores to be parasitized by endophilic ticks. Spanish wild carnivores are hosts to a relevant number of tick species, some of them being potential vectors of pathogens causing serious animal and human diseases. Information provided herein can be of help to understand tick ecology in Spanish wildlife, the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, and to prevent the risks of TBPs for wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.     

Isolation of pathogenic yersiniae from wild animals in Bulgaria

Pathogenic Yersinia strains were isolated between December 1998 and April 1999 from 37 wild animals: rabbit (Lepus europeus), boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), asiatic jackal (Canis aureus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), mouflon (Ovis musimon), european river otter (Lutra lutra), beech marten (Martes foina), polecat (Musleta putorius) and wild cat (Felis silvestris). It was established that among the wild animals Y. enterocolitica strains of serotype 0:3 predominated, accompanied by Y. pseudotuberculosis strains of serotype 0:3. In one sample from asiatic jackal and one sample from rabbit, Y. enterocolitica serotype 0:8 was isolated. Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains were isolated from tonsils and tongues as well as from the viscera--lung, liver, heart, spleen, kidney and lymph nodes, mainly in young animals (1-2 years of age). The results showed that wild animals are a possible natural reservoir for pathogenic Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis and are included in the epidemiological chain of yersinioses.