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Home / Equine Research Bank / Onderstepoort J Vet Res / Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. I...
The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research2017; 84(1); e1-e6; doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302

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.
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Publication Date: 2017-02-28 PubMed ID: 28281774PubMed Central: PMC6238695DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The article reports on a study of ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys across South Africa, naming the most prevalent species and their role in transmitting diseases to livestock.

Research Aim and Methods

  • The study’s primary objective was to establish the diversity of ixodid tick species that infect horses and donkeys in South Africa. Additionally, it aimed to identify those species that transmit diseases to domestic livestock.
  • Ticks were collected quite randomly from a total of 391 horses across the nation by their owners, veterinary students, Faculty of Veterinary Science staff at the University of Pretoria, or grooms.
  • Also, ticks were gathered from 76 donkeys in Limpopo Province, 2 in Gauteng Province, and 1 in North West province.
  • Every collected tick was identified using a stereoscopic microscope.

Findings for Horses

  • It was found that horses were infested by 17 tick species.
  • About 72.1% of these were infested with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 19.4% with Amblyomma hebraeum, and 15.6% with Rhipicephalus decoloratus.
  • Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was found in horses in all nine provinces of South Africa, while R. decoloratus was evident in eight provinces.

Findings for Donkeys

  • For donkeys, eight tick species were discovered.
  • Around 81.6% of the donkeys were infested with R. evertsi evertsi, 23.7% had A. hebraeum, and 10.5% held R. decoloratus.

Impact of Tick Infestation on Livestock

  • A number of tick species found on the horses and donkeys act as vectors for economically significant diseases affecting livestock.
  • Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, for instance, is the vector for Theileria equi, causing equine piroplasmosis. It also transmits Anaplasma marginale, the causative agent of anaplasmosis in cattle.
  • Amblyomma hebraeum, on the other hand, is the vector for Ehrlichia ruminantium, causing heartwater in cattle, sheep, and goats, while R. decoloratus transmits Babesia bigemina, responsible for babesiosis in cattle.

Cite This Article

APA
Horak IG, Heyne H, Halajian A, Booysen S, Smit WJ. (2017). Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. Ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys. Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 84(1), e1-e6. https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302

Publication

The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 2219-0635
NlmUniqueID: 0401107
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 84
Issue: 1
Pages: e1-e6
PII: 1302

Researcher Affiliations

Horak, Ivan G
  • Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria. ivan.horak@up.ac.za.
Heyne, Heloise
    Halajian, Ali
      Booysen, Shalaine
        Smit, Willem J

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Animals, Wild
          • Arachnid Vectors
          • Equidae / parasitology
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / parasitology
          • Horse Diseases / transmission
          • Horses
          • Ixodidae
          • Prevalence
          • South Africa / epidemiology
          • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
          • Tick Infestations / parasitology
          • Tick Infestations / veterinary
          • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
          • Tick-Borne Diseases / parasitology
          • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 5 times.
          1. Mahlobo-Shwabede SIC, Zishiri OT, Thekisoe OMM, Makalo MJR. Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia africae and Anaplasma Species in Ticks from Domestic Animals in Lesotho.. Pathogens 2021 Sep 14;10(9).
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