A study of the seasonality and infestation rates of ticks was carried out in 11 cattle herds in different ecological habitats in Zambia between 1980 and 1982. Wherever possible supplementary data were obtained from opportunistic collections from cattle and other hosts. Analysis of over 1000 tick collections from cattle indicated that infestation rates of the most important species, Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus vary in different ecological habitats: (i) In Western Province, infestations are much lower than elsewhere; (ii) in Central and Southern Provinces, moderate to high infestations occur; and (iii) in Eastern Province, R. appendiculatus numbers are generally low and A. variegatum numbers are moderate. These two species, however, have similar life cycles throughout their range with one generation per year. Larvae occur mainly from March to May, nymphae from May to September, and adults of A. variegatum from October to December and of R. appendiculatus from December to April. Boophilus decoloratus appears to have two to four generations per year but is uncommon during the rainy season. In some areas in central Zambia Rhipicephalus compositus adults are seasonally common in September-October whereas Rhipicephalus evertsi is more or less ubiquitous. Low to moderate infestations of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma rufipes occur in most areas. At least 14 other less common or rare species of Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis and Ixodes were taken infrequently from cattle. These and other host-specific species were also collected from dogs, sheep, various wildlife hosts and the environment. Infestation rates, seasonality and host-relationships of tick species are discussed in relation to their ecology. Relevant biosystematic and disease relationships are reviewed briefly. The baseline data derived from this study are adequate for integrated analysis with those from other ecological and economic investigations to formulate tick control strategies.

No abstract

The seasonal activity of the adults of 13 tick species was studied on cattle herds in the Central Province of Zambia from 1969 to 1972. The six main species, Boophilus decoloratus (Koch), Hyalomma marginatum rufipes Koch, H. truncatum Koch, Amblyomma variegatum (F.), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neum., and R. evertsi Neum. behaved as previously described for the Southern Province. R. compositus Neum. appeared from August, with peak numbers in September-October. R. simus Koch and R. tricuspis Don. appeared from October, for seven months and three months respectively. R. supertritus Neum. and Ixodes cavipalpus Nutt. & Warb. had a brief activity season from November to January, and R. pravus gp. and R. sanguineus gp. were active from December to July. The distribution of ticks over the body of cattle was determined by fractionised collections, which gave reliable quantitative information for nine of the species. A limited number of collections from sheep, goats and dogs are analysed in relation to season. Collections from 127 wild animals, mainly along the escarpment and riverine bush of the Zambesi, are recorded.

The tick infestation patterns observed during 1966-73 are described for wild animals and cattle on the northern plateau of north-eastern

Reptiles from Southern Province, Zambia were captured and inspected for ticks. Seven of 18 tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) were infested by small numbers of adults and nymphs of Amblyomma marmoreum. Under such circumstances, the tick had little apparent effect on the host. None of the 13 specimens representing four species of snakes examined were infested with ticks.