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An update on the ecological distribution of the Ixodidae ticks in Zimbabwe

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Abstract

In total 7657 ticks were collected from 121 dip tanks in 12 districts representative of Zimbabwe’s five ecological regions between September 2013 and May 2014. Based on morphological traits four genera and 13 species of ticks were identified. Amblyomma hebraeum (60.3 %), Rhipicephalus microplus (58.7 %), Rhipicephalus decoloratus (47.1 %), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (56.2 %), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (67.8 %), Rhipicephalus (near) punctatus (13.2 %), Hyalomma truncatum (38 %) and Hyalomma rufipes (46.3 %) were found in all the ecological regions of the country. Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus compositus (0.8 %) were only found in the north central part of the country while Rhipicephalus simus (5 %) had a sparse distribution. The Haemaphysalis leachi group (1.7 %) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.7 %) were found whenever dogs were sampled suggesting these could be widespread throughout the country. The study confirmed the continued limited distribution of A. variegatum (3.3 %) in the north central parts of the country, whereas A. hebraeum was found to have a wide distribution also encroaching areas of high rainfall and lower temperatures where it was not previously recorded. A parapatric relationship existed between these two Amblyomma species. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was also widely distributed although its presence was dominant in the cooler and wetter parts of the country. The traditionally held view that Hyalomma species and R. evertsi evertsi can survive well under diverse conditions is upheld in this study. Rhipicephalus microplus was also present in dry regions but its adaptability to these regions requires further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Belgian Department for Development Co-operation for the financial support which made this study to be possible. The Deputy Director-Research and Diagnostic Services of the Department of Veterinary Services Zimbabwe Dr. P.V. Makaya is acknowledged for the permission to do this research. We are also grateful to the provincial and district government veterinary officers as well as animal health inspectors for availing their staff to assist in tick collections.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Veterinary Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Insititute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium

    Marvelous Sungirai & Maxime Madder

  2. Department of Livestock and Wildlife Management, Midlands State University, 1 Senga Road, P. Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe

    Marvelous Sungirai

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Midlands State University, 1 Senga Road, P. Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe

    Doreen Zandile Moyo

  4. Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Patrick De Clercq

  5. Unit of Veterinary Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Insititute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium

    Emmanuel Nji Abatih

  6. Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

    Maxime Madder

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  1. Marvelous Sungirai
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Correspondence to Marvelous Sungirai.

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Sungirai, M., Madder, M., Moyo, D.Z. et al. An update on the ecological distribution of the Ixodidae ticks in Zimbabwe. Exp Appl Acarol 66, 269–280 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-015-9892-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-015-9892-5

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