Ixodid ticks on indigenous goats owned by small-scale farmers in four communal grazing areas in South Africa
Bryson, N.R.; Tice, G.A.; Horak, I.G.; Stewart, C.G.; du Plessis, B.J.A.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 73(1): 26-30
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 12088070 Document Number: 545401
Indigenous goats belonging to small-scale farmers in 4 communal grazing areas in South Africa were sampled for ixodid ticks during the period from September 1991 to May 1993. Three of these areas were in the North West Province (Rietgat, Madinyane and Bethany), and one in Mpumalanga Province (Geluk). No tick control was practiced unless requested by the owners. Seven ixodid tick species, of which the majority were immature ticks, were collected from the goats in the North West Province. Amblyomma hebraeum was the most numerous of these, followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Substantially more ticks were collected from goats at Rietgat than at the Madinyane and Bethany grazing areas. Five tick species were collected at Geluk and R. evertsi evertsi comprised more than 95% of the total population. At Rietgat and Geluk, A. hebraeum nymphs were present on goats throughout the year, while most R. appendiculatus nymphs were collected during September and October 1991 and most adults during January and February 1992. At both Rietgat and Geluk, most immature R. evertsi evertsi were collected from spring to late summer, while adults were present throughout the year.