ticks

Ixodes rubicundus: common name?

Karoo paralysis tick

Ixodes rubicundus: importance?

Female produces toxin = paralysis in sheep, goats, young calves, antelope

True or false: the natural hosts of Ixodes rubicundus are susceptible to paralysis if fed on.

False

True or false: springbok and gemsbok are not susceptible to paralysis by I. rubicundes.

False

Ixodes rubicundus: number of hosts and what hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Larvae: Red rock rabbits, rock elephant shrews, rooikatte
Adults: Rooi ribbokke, rooitkat, sheep & goats

Ixodes ticks have what distinct morphological feature?

Anterior anal groove

Ixodes ticks: seasonal occurrence & how long to complete life cycle?

All stages occur in winter
2 years

Ixodes pilosus

Sourveld tick
No disease

Which tick genus has the shortest mouthparts?

Rhipicephalus

Margaropus winthemi: Common name?

Winter horse tick

Margaropus winthemi: number of hosts and preferred host?

ONE-HOST TICK
Horse

Margaropus winthemi: importance?

Transmit NO DISEASE
Large infestations during winter = loss of condition

Which tick prefers colder climates (winter) and high altitudes?

Margaropus winthemi (winter horse tick)

The majority of Rhipicephalus species are (?)-host ticks.

3-HOST TICKS

Rhipicephalus simus: Common name?

Glossy brown tick

Rhipicephalus simus: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus simus: Preferred hosts?

Monogastrics (humans included!)

Rhipicephalus simus: Transmits?

Anaplasma marginale

Rhipicephalus simus: Distribution?

Widespread but never numerous

Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum: Common name?

Smooth brown tick

Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum: No. of hosts?

2-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum: importance?

Sheep & goats (esp. Angora) = lameness & foot abscesses

Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum: Can be confused with?

Amblyomma hebraeum (predilection site also feet)

Rhipicephalus warburtoni: Common name?

Brown paralysis tick

Rhipicephalus warbutoni: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Which species of tick is a hunter (actively seeks prey)?

Rhipicephalus warbutoni

Rhipicephalus warbutoni: Predilection site and preferred host?

Head, goats

Rhipicephalus warbutoni: Importance?

Paralysis in goat kids (toxin)

Which two tick species causes paralysis and how does one differentiate between them?

Ixodes rubicundes (winter) and Rhipicephalus warbutoni (summer)

Haemaphysalis elliptica: Common name?

Yellow dog tick

Haemaphysalis elliptica: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Haemaphysalis elliptica: Importance?

Transmits Babesia canis to dogs

Haemaphysialis silacea: Common name & importance?

Ciskei tick
No disease

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus: Common name?

African Blue tick

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus: number of hosts and preferred host?

1-HOST TICK
Wildlife (impala/buffalo)

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus: transmits?

Babesia bigemina
Anaplasma marginale

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus: Distribution?

Requires moisture and warmth, thus not dry areas i.e. Karoo

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Common name?

Asian blue tick

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: number of hosts and preferred hosts?

1-HOST TICK
Cattle

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: transmits?

Babesia bigemina
Babesia bovis
Anaplasma marginale

True or false: Calves are less susceptible to babesiosis as they develop natural immunity (subclinical infection) when exposed.

True

Is B. bigrmina or B. bovis more widespread, and which one causes the most outbreaks of disease?

B. bigemina but B. bovis causes the most outbreaks of disease

Which babesia is more important in cattle?

B. bovis

Which has the most rapid spread: Rhipicephalus decoloratus or microplus?

Rhipicephalus micro plus

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus: Common name?

Brown ear tick

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus: Transmits?

1. Theileria parva (ECF, Corridor disease)
2. Theileria taurotragi (benign theilerosis in cattle)

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus: Distribution?

Summer rainfall regions - cattle farming regions (Grahamstown to KNP)

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

True or false: Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults and immatures feed on the inner & outer surfaces of the ear.

FALSE, only adults feed on the inner & outer surfaces of ear (can cause crumpling of ear, bacterial infections)

Rhipicephalus zambesiensis: Common name?

Lowveld brown ear tick

Rhipicephalus zambesiensis: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus zambesiensis: Importance?

1. Theileria parva (ECF, Corridor disease)
2. Theileria taurotragi (benign theilerosis in cattle)

Which 2 ticks transmit Theileria parva/taurotragi?

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus
Rhipicephalus zambiziensis

Rhipicephalus zambeziensis: Distribution?

Can tolerate warmer, crier climates vs. R. appendiculatus (NW regions, rivers)

Rhipicephalus nitens: Common name?

Fynbos brown ear tick

Rhipicephalus nitens: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus nitens: Importance?

Large infestations on small farms in Western Cape = death in game animals (springbok)

Two-host ticks?

Beady orbited eyes (Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi/ evertsi mimeticus/ glabroscutatum)
Hyalomma spp.

Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi: Common name?

Red legged tick

Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi: No. of hosts?

2-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi: Distribution?

Entire SA except NC

Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi: Adult and immature predilection sites?

Adult = tail hood
Immature = deep in ear canal

Considering predilection sites, treating which areas would prove effective in the control of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi?

Tail hood and ears

Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi: Importance?

1. Equine piroplasmosis (B. caballi, T. equi)

2. Females secrete toxin causing "spring lamb paralysis" (reversible)

3. Toxicosis in small stock

4. Facial nerve paralysis (immatures in ear canal)

5. Borra theileri (spirochaete)

Rhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus: Common name?

Namibian red legged tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: Common name?

Kennel tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: No. of hosts?

3-HOST TICK

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: Preferred host?

DOGS

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: transmit?

Ehrliche canis

Hyalomma spp. common name?

Bont-legged tick

Hyalomma rufipes: Importance?

1. Large mouthparts (wounds = bacterial infection = maggots = abscess)
2. Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever
3. Lameness in lambs

Hyalomma rufipes: Seasonal occurrence?

Adults = October to March

Hyalomma spp. are (?)-host ticks.

2-HOST TICKS

Hyalomma truncatum: importance?

1. Sweating sickness in calves (toxin) - only in naive/heavily infested calves
2. Large mouthparts (wounds = bacterial infection = maggots = abscess)
3. CCHF
4. Lameness in lambs
5. Dogs: infest together "necrotic dermatitis"

Hyalomma glabrum: importance?

Potential vector of anaplasmosis

Argas walkerae: common name?

Fowl tampan/tick

Argas walkerae: importance?

Larvae produce toxin = chicken paralysis

Argas spp. preferred host?

Flying animals (i.e. birds or bats)

True or false: Argas paralysis is irreversible and occurs commonly on intensive commercial farms.

False, reversible and common in rural areas

Otobius megnini: common name?

Spinose ear tick

Otobius megnini: Which stages are most likely to be found on the host and where?

Larvae & nymphs, in the ear

Otobius megnini: True or false, the female requires a blood meal to lay eggs.

FALSE

Otobius megnini: Importance?

Spines of tick causes irritation in the ears = do not feed well
(can be carrier to new locations in ears of infested animals)

Otobius megnini: Adults can be found where?

In cracks & crevices, do not really feed

Ornithodorus moubata: Common name?

Eyeless / hut tampan

Ornithodorus moubata: Hosts?

Humans & poultry

Ornithodorus moubata: Importance?

Transmit disease
Relapsing fever in humans

Ornithodorus porcinus: Common name?

Warthog tampan

Ornithodorus porcinus: Host and importance?

Warthogs = transmit ASF

Ornithodorus savignyi: Common name?

Sand tampan

Ornithodorus savignyi: Adapted to what environment?

Sandy arid regions: evolved to survive long absences of hosts

Ornithodorus savignyi: Importance?

Toxin in saliva = shock-like reaction = haemorrhage = death
(newly born calves or newly introduced cattle)

Amblyomma hebraeum vs. variegatum?

A. hebraeum = pale festoons
A. variegatum = dark festoons

Amblyomma spp. are (?)-host ticks.

3-HOST TICKS

Amblyomma hebraeum: common name?

Bont tick / heart water tick

Amblyomma hebraeum: importance?

1. Heartwater (Ehrlichia ruminantium) in cattle, sheep, goats
2. Foot abscesses (sheep & goats)

Amblyomma ticks prefer what kind of habitat?

Moisture, warmth, bush & brush
(NOT OPEN GRASSLAND)

Which Amblyomma spp. occur in SA?

A. hebraeum
A. marmoreum

Amblyomma variegatum: Common name?

Tropical bont tick

Amblyomma variegatum: Importance?

1. Ehrliche ruminantium (heartwater)
2. Nairobi sheep disease
3. Dermatophilus congolensis