Elephant shrews as hosts of immature ixodid ticks

Two hundred and seventy-three elephant shrews, consisting of 193 Elephantulus myurus, 67 Elephantulus edwardii and 13 animals belonging to other species, were examined for ixodid ticks at 18 localities in South Africa and Namibia. The immature stages of Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicentor nuttalli, Rhipicephalus warburtoni and a Rhipicephalus pravus-like tick were the most numerous of the 18 tick species recovered. Substantial numbers of immature Rhipicephalus arnoldi, Rhipicephalus distinctus and Rhipicephalus exophthalmos were also collected from elephant shrews at particular localities. Larvae of I. rubicundus were most numerous on E. myurus in Free State Province from April to July and nymphs from June to October. Larvae of R. nuttalli were most numerous on these animals during April, May, August and September, and nymphs in February and from April to August. The immature stages of R. warburton were collected from E. myurus only in Free State Province, and larvae were generally most numerous from December to August and nymphs from April to October.

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Birds as hosts of immature ixodid ticks in Free State Province, South Africa

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v73i2.157 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

D.J. Van Niekerk ◽

L.J. Fourie ◽

I.G. Horak

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

The Other ◽

Free State ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Free State Province ◽

Numida Meleagris ◽

Hyalomma Marginatum

The objective of this study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks infesting birds in Free State Province, South Africa. To this end a large number of birds belonging to several species were examined for ticks and a total of 180 birds belonging to 39 species at 17 localities were infested, and ticks belonging to eight species were recovered. The immature stages of only two, namely Amblyomma marmoreum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, were sufficiently prevalent and numerous to safely assume that they regularly use birds as hosts. Helmeted guineafowls, Numida meleagris, were the most heavily infested and one harboured a total of 319 larvae and four nymphs. Amongst the other species an eastern clapper lark, Mirafra fasciolata, was infested with 69 larvae and a nymph, but no other bird harboured more than 40 ticks. The larvae and nymphs of H. m. rufipes were most numerous on birds from April to August.

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Small mammals as hosts of immature ixodid ticks

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v72i3.204 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

I.G. Horak ◽

L.J. Fourie ◽

L.E.O. Braack

Keyword(s):

Small Mammals ◽

Tick Species ◽

Ixodid Tick ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Free State ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Rhabdomys Pumilio ◽

Haemaphysalis Leachi ◽

Lepus Capensis ◽

Multimammate Mice

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.

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The seasonal activity of adult ixodid ticks on Angora goats in the south western Orange Free State

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v62i3.1604 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 104-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

L. J. Fourie ◽

I. G. Horak

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Late Summer ◽

Ixodid Tick ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Free State ◽

Seasonal Activity ◽

The South ◽

Ixodes Rubicundus ◽

Angora Goats

Adult ixodid ticks were collected at 2-weekly intervals for a period of 23 consecutive months from 15 to 20 Angora goats on a farm in the south western Orange Free State. A total of 6 ixodid tick species were recovered. Rhipicephalus punctatus was the most abundant and prevalent tick, It was present from spring to late summer. Ixodes rubicundus was the next most abundant tick and was present mainly from March or April to July with peak numbers present in April or May. The onset of this tick's activity appeared to be stimulated by low atmospheric temperatures.

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