Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa : research communication

H Golezardy,I.G Horak

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v74i1.141

Abstract

The objective of this study was to make an inventory of the ixodid tick species infesting wild animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa. To this end 22 animals in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, 10 in the West Coast National Park and 16 in the Karoo National Park were examined. Fourteen tick species were recovered, of which Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus exophthalmos and Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum were each present in two reserves and the remainder only in one. The distributions of two of the 14 tick species recovered, namely Rhipicephalus capensis and Rhipicephalus neumanni, are virtually confined to the western semi-arid regions of southern Africa. Hyalomma truncatum, R. capensis and R. glabroscutatum were the most numerous of the ticks recovered, and eland, Taurotragus oryx, were the most heavily infested with the former two species and gemsbok, Oryx gazella, and mountain reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula, with R. glabroscutatum.

Highlights

The objective of this study was to make an inventory of the ixodid tick species infesting wild animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa
A number of these studies have been conducted in the Cape Province
The present paper provides an inventory of the ixodid ticks collected from wildlife in three semi-arid nature reserves in the erstwhile Cape Province, two in the region known as the Western Cape Province and one in the named Northern Cape Province

Summary

Introduction

The objective of this study was to make an inventory of the ixodid tick species infesting wild animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa. The present paper provides an inventory of the ixodid ticks collected from wildlife in three semi-arid nature reserves in the erstwhile Cape Province, two in the region known as the Western Cape Province and one in the named Northern Cape Province. During October 1984 22 animals were examined for ticks in the central region of the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion