Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the species spectrum of ticks infesting goats owned by resource-limited farmers in the state-owned communal land areas of Zimbabwe. Ticks were collected from goats at a single locality within each of 5 communal land areas, and a total of 14 ixodid tick species was recovered. The most numerous tick was Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, which was present in all areas at each sampling, and a Rhipicephalus sp. (near R. punctatus), which was most abundant on goats in the central regions of Zimbabwe during the March rainy season. Amblyomma hebraeum was present on goats in all areas sampled. In the eastern central region its distribution overlapped that of Amblyomma variegatum, while in the northwest it overlapped those of both Amblyomma marmoreum and A. variegatum. Hyalomma truncatum was present at all localities, whereas only a single Hyalomma rufipes was recovered. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was collected from goats in the moist, slightly cooler regions, while the few Rhipicephalus zambeziensis recovered were present in the hotter, drier regions. Species recorded in lower numbers were Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus lunulatus, Rhipicephalus simus, Rhipicephalus tricuspis and Rhipicephalus turanicus. Attachment in the inter-digital space of adult A. hebreaum and H. truncatum was sometimes associated with lameness.
Highlights
The topography of Zimbabwe can be described as a series of plateaus[1]
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was collected from goats in the moist, slightly cooler regions, while the few Rhipicephalus zambeziensis recovered were present in the hotter, drier regions
Four species were present on goats at every sampling locality, namely Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma truncatum, R. evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus simus
Summary
The topography of Zimbabwe can be described as a series of plateaus[1]. The high central plateau, known as the ‘highveld’(1200–1675 m above sea level), stretches from the southwest of the country to the northeast, culminating in the east inMount Inyangani at an altitude of 2592 m.The low altitude areas (below 610 m) in the valleys of the Zambezi River in the northwest and the Limpopo and SabiRivers in the south and southeast constitute the ‘lowveld’. The topography of Zimbabwe can be described as a series of plateaus[1]. The high central plateau, known as the ‘highveld’. Mount Inyangani at an altitude of 2592 m. The low altitude areas (below 610 m) in the valleys of the Zambezi River in the northwest and the Limpopo and Sabi. Between the high- and the lowveld lies the middleveld plateau ranging from 600 to 1200 m in altitude[1]. Temperature and relative humidity on the high central plateau are moderate, whereas the climate in the lowveld tends to be very hot and dry. The country has been divided into 5 agro-ecological zones according to climate, land-use and vegetation, and these are known as Natural a Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box
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