Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. Ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks that infest horses and donkeys in South Africa and to identify those species that act as vectors of disease to domestic livestock. Ticks were collected opportunistically from 391 horses countrywide by their owners or grooms, or by veterinary students and staff at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Ticks were also collected from 76 donkeys in Limpopo Province, 2 in Gauteng Province and 1 in North West province. All the ticks were identified by means of a stereoscopic microscope. Horses were infested with 17 tick species, 72.1% with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 19.4% with Amblyomma hebraeum and 15.6% with Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was recovered from horses in all nine provinces of South Africa and R. decoloratus in eight provinces. Donkeys were infested with eight tick species, and 81.6% were infested with R. evertsi evertsi, 23.7% with A. hebraeum and 10.5% with R. decoloratus. Several tick species collected from the horses and donkeys are the vectors of economically important diseases of livestock. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi is the vector of Theileria equi, the causative organism of equine piroplasmosis. It also transmits Anaplasma marginale, the causative organism of anaplasmosis in cattle. Amblyomma hebraeum is the vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative organism of heartwater in cattle, sheep and goats, whereas R. decoloratus transmits Babesia bigemina, the causative organism of babesiosis in cattle.

Ixodid tick diversity on wild mammals, birds and reptiles in and around Etosha National Park, Namibia

“…The numbers collected from individual animals were generally low and with some exceptions the prevalence of infestation low. The recorded infestation rates are well below those reported in other parts of southern Africa (e.g., Horak et al, 2000), but are consistent with those previously reported in our study area (e.g., Horak et al, 1992). …”

“…However, several collections have been made from domestic dogs and some from domestic cats and caracals (Horak and Matthee, 2003, Horak et al, 2010, Matthee et al, 2010). Walker et al (2000) plot locality records across Namibia and south-central South Africa.…”

Zoonotic Parasites of Wildlife in Africa: A Review

“…Basson et al (1970) found 5% prevalence in the buffaloes they examined. Among the 52 warthogs examined, eight were positive, corresponding to a prevalence of 15.4% (Horak, 1978). Antelope, bush pigs and warthogs can also serve as intermediate host, depending on the presence or absence of carnivore to avoid a break in the life cycle.…”

Diversity of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cheetahs (Acinoyx jubatus) at three breeding centres in South Africa and activity patterns of questing ticks

“…Various wild and domestic carnivores are the preferred hosts of the adults of H. elliptica, including domestic dogs and cats as well as lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus) and cheetahs (Apanaskevich et al, 2007;Horak et al, 1987;Horak et al, 2000;Horak and Matthee, 2003;Horak et al, 2010). Several murid rodent species are the preferred hosts of its immature stages (Hoogstraal, 1956;Horak et al, 2005;Petney et al, 2004).…”

“…Among domestic animals, the adult ticks primarily parasitise cattle and dogs Walker et al, 2000), but they have also been recovered from many wild animals including felids (Horak et al, 1983;Horak et al, 1987;Horak et al, 2000;Norval and Mason, 1981). The immature stages prefer murid rodents as hosts, some species of which may be burrow-dwelling (Braack et al, 1996;Hoogstraal, 1956;Norval and Mason, 1981).…”