U. Zieger et al., IXODID TICK INFESTATIONS OF WILD BIRDS AND MAMMALS ON A GAME RANCH INCENTRAL PROVINCE, ZAMBIA, Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research, 65(2), 1998, pp. 113-124
Ticks were collected at irregular intervals from December 1995 to Nove
mber 1996 from wildlife on Mtendere Game Ranch in the Chisamba Distric
t of Central Province, Zambia. Total collections were made from two sp
ecies of ground-nesting birds and 20 species of small and large mammal
s. Thirteen species/subspecies of ixodid ticks were recovered. Rhipice
phalus appendiculatus was the most abundant, followed by Boophilus dec
oloratus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. Small numbers of immature
ticks of only a few species were collected from the birds and rodents.
The lagomorphs carried large numbers of predominantly immature R. app
endiculatus. Most of the ungulates harboured several tick species and
had high infestations of R, appendiculatus. The seasonal abundances of
Amblyomma variegatum, B. decoloratus, R. appendiculatus and R. everts
i evertsi were determined.