Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe

The tick vectors of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) in Zimbabwe, Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma variegatum, historically were believed to be confined to the low-lying regions of the south and north-west of the country. However, country-wide surveys performed in 1975-1980 and 1988-1991 d...

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Main Authors: Peter, T.F., Perry, Brian D., O'Callaghan, C.J., Medley, G.F., Shumba, W., Madzima, W., Burridge, M.J., Mahan, S.M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 1998
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/32908
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author Peter, T.F.
Perry, Brian D.
O'Callaghan, C.J.
Medley, G.F.
Shumba, W.
Madzima, W.
Burridge, M.J.
Mahan, S.M.
author_browse Burridge, M.J.
Madzima, W.
Mahan, S.M.
Medley, G.F.
O'Callaghan, C.J.
Perry, Brian D.
Peter, T.F.
Shumba, W.
author_facet Peter, T.F.
Perry, Brian D.
O'Callaghan, C.J.
Medley, G.F.
Shumba, W.
Madzima, W.
Burridge, M.J.
Mahan, S.M.
author_sort Peter, T.F.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The tick vectors of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) in Zimbabwe, Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma variegatum, historically were believed to be confined to the low-lying regions of the south and north-west of the country. However, country-wide surveys performed in 1975-1980 and 1988-1991 demonstrated that both species were also established in western parts of the highveld plateau and had started to encroach on the predominantly heartwater-free central and eastern highveld regions. To determine the current distributions of both the vectors and evaluate the potential threat of heartwater to animals in the highveld, a survey of ticks infesting cattle was performed in 1996 at 2994 locations in small-holder and large-scale commercial farming areas throughout Zimbabwe. Amblyomma hebraeum was collected at 1329 locations, a. variegatum at 72 locations and both A. hebraeum and A. variegatum at 13 locations. The results demonstrated that A. hebraeum was present as previously recorded, throughout the southern half of the country and appeared to have undergone further limited spread into the central and eastern highveld regions. Only the northern-most region of the country appeared to be free of this species. Amblyomma variegatum was collected mainly in the north-west, as previously recorded, but was also found at isolated locations across the central highveld region and along the eastern border with Mozambique. This species was, however, still absent from the southern half and the northern-most regions of the country. An overlap of the distributions of the two species existed within a zone along the southern and eastern regions of the distribution of A. variegatum. These results suggest that the vectors of heartwater are spreading and threaten to introduce heartwater into intensive livestock-producing regions of the country.
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spelling CGSpace329082024-08-29T11:41:29Z Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe Peter, T.F. Perry, Brian D. O'Callaghan, C.J. Medley, G.F. Shumba, W. Madzima, W. Burridge, M.J. Mahan, S.M. bacterial diseases cowdria ruminantium vectors amblyomma hebraeum amblyomma variegatum geographical distribution livestock production systems The tick vectors of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) in Zimbabwe, Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma variegatum, historically were believed to be confined to the low-lying regions of the south and north-west of the country. However, country-wide surveys performed in 1975-1980 and 1988-1991 demonstrated that both species were also established in western parts of the highveld plateau and had started to encroach on the predominantly heartwater-free central and eastern highveld regions. To determine the current distributions of both the vectors and evaluate the potential threat of heartwater to animals in the highveld, a survey of ticks infesting cattle was performed in 1996 at 2994 locations in small-holder and large-scale commercial farming areas throughout Zimbabwe. Amblyomma hebraeum was collected at 1329 locations, a. variegatum at 72 locations and both A. hebraeum and A. variegatum at 13 locations. The results demonstrated that A. hebraeum was present as previously recorded, throughout the southern half of the country and appeared to have undergone further limited spread into the central and eastern highveld regions. Only the northern-most region of the country appeared to be free of this species. Amblyomma variegatum was collected mainly in the north-west, as previously recorded, but was also found at isolated locations across the central highveld region and along the eastern border with Mozambique. This species was, however, still absent from the southern half and the northern-most regions of the country. An overlap of the distributions of the two species existed within a zone along the southern and eastern regions of the distribution of A. variegatum. These results suggest that the vectors of heartwater are spreading and threaten to introduce heartwater into intensive livestock-producing regions of the country. 1998 2013-07-03T05:25:44Z 2013-07-03T05:25:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/32908 en Limited Access Springer Experimental & Applied Acarology;22(12): 725-740
spellingShingle bacterial diseases
cowdria ruminantium
vectors
amblyomma hebraeum
amblyomma variegatum
geographical distribution
livestock
production systems
Peter, T.F.
Perry, Brian D.
O'Callaghan, C.J.
Medley, G.F.
Shumba, W.
Madzima, W.
Burridge, M.J.
Mahan, S.M.
Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title_full Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title_short Distributions of the vectors of heartwater, Amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Zimbabwe
title_sort distributions of the vectors of heartwater amblyomma hebraeum and amblyomma variegatum acari ixodidae in zimbabwe
topic bacterial diseases
cowdria ruminantium
vectors
amblyomma hebraeum
amblyomma variegatum
geographical distribution
livestock
production systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/32908
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