Open AccessElephant shrews as hosts of immature ixodid ticks
Author(s) -
L.J. Fourie,
Ivan G. Horak,
P.F. Woodall
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
onderstepoort journal of veterinary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2219-0635
pISSN - 0030-2465
DOI - 10.4102/ojvr.v72i4.178
Subject(s) - nymph , biology , tick , rhipicephalus sanguineus , zoology , veterinary medicine , larva , rhipicephalus , ixodidae , ecology , medicine
Two hundred and seventy-three elephant shrews, consisting of 193 Elephantulus myurus, 67 Elephantulus edwardii and 13 animals belonging to other species, were examined for ixodid ticks at 18 localities in South Africa and Namibia. The immature stages of Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicentor nuttalli, Rhipicephalus warburtoni and a Rhipicephalus pravus-like tick were the most numerous of the 18 tick species recovered. Substantial numbers of immature Rhipicephalus arnoldi, Rhipicephalus distinctus and Rhipicephalus exophthalmos were also collected from elephant shrews at particular localities. Larvae of I. rubicundus were most numerous on E. myurus in Free State Province from April to July and nymphs from June to October. Larvae of R. nuttalli were most numerous on these animals during April, May, August and September, and nymphs in February and from April to August. The immature stages of R. warburton were collected from E. myurus only in Free State Province, and larvae were generally most numerous from December to August and nymphs from April to October.