A SURVEY OF THE IXODID TICKS PARASITIZING CATTLE IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA

The results of tick surveys carried out in the Eastern province of Zam bia between December 1982 and February 1996 were principally in agreem ent with the findings of earlier surveys conducted during the period 1 965-72. Boophilus decoloratus has almost been replaced by Boophilus mi croplus. Hyalomma truncatum was found in small numbers throughout the province and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes was only rarely encountered i n collections made from cattle. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was larg ely confined to the southern part of the plateau and the valleys of th e Zambezi tributaries. The main difference between the present survey and the previous one concerns the status of Rhipicephalus appendiculat us, This species is currently expanding its range in a westward direct ion, whereas it was virtually absent from the southern part of the pro vince during the period 1965-72. The majority of specimens collected a re morphologically intermediate between R. appendiculatus and the clos ely allied Rhipicephalus zambeziensis. The available evidence indicate s that R. zambeziensis (sensu stricto) is absent from the province. Th e phenology of R. appendiculatus is aberrant in the province: at lower altitudes a second generation of adult ticks is recorded on the hosts at the start of the dry season.