Survey of Ixodid Ticks and Two Tick-Borne Pathogens in African Buffaloes,Syncerus caffer, from the Caprivi Strip, Namibia

• DOI: 10.1638/2011-0014.1
• Publication Date: 2011-12-19T21:34:38Z
• Authors: Ilaria Pascucci; Andrea Capobianco...; Cesare Cammà; Maurilia Marcacci; Marco Di Domenico; Rossella Lelli; Massimo Scacchia; Mark Jago; Siegfried Khaiseb; Anna Laure Hager; Georgina Tjipura-...; Vincenzo Caporale
• Keywords: Amblyomma; Tick-borne disease

A capture operation to ascertain health status in free-ranging buffaloes from six different areas the Caprivi Strip northeast corner of Namibia was conducted October 2009. Basic information on ticks and tick-borne pathogens normally found wildlife this area are scarce. The objective study assess host African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, for ixodid two selected Strip, a key bordering Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe. Four tick species have been identified among 233 collected specimens, and, 95 tested 54 (57%) were positive Theileria parva, whereas only 3 (3%) showed evidence being infected with Ehrlichia ruminantium.