Ig. Horak et al., PARASITES OF DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS IN SOUTH-AFRICA .34. ARTHROPODPARASITES OF NYALAS IN NORTH-EASTERN KWAZULU-NATAL, Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research, 62(3), 1995, pp. 171-179
Seventy-three nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii) in the Umfolozi, Mkuzi and
Ndumu Game Reserves in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal were examined for ar
thropod parasites during 1983 and 1984. In addition, six animals were
examined during 1994. Ten ixodid tick species, two louse species and a
louse fly species were recovered. The nyalas were good hosts of all s
tages of development of Boophilus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendicu
latus and Rhipicephalus muehlensi and the immature stages of Amblyomma
hebraeum and Rhipicephalus maculatus. Adult male animals harboured mo
re adult ticks, biting lice and louse flies than did adult females. B.
decoloratus was generally most abundant from October to May. The larv
ae of R. appendiculatus peaked from April to October, nymphs from July
to October and adults, on adult male nyalas, from February to May. La
rvae of R. maculatus were most abundant from May to July and nymphs fr
om June to October. The immature stages of A. hebraeum and all stages
of R. muehlensi were present throughout the year.