Title: In search of the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in the western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province

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Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the distribution of R. (B.) microplus under different ecological zones in the western-central regions of Eastern Cape Province. Engorged adult blue ticks were collected monthly from 360 randomly selected cattle and free-living ticks from six replicate drags of the vegetation over a period of 1 year at Bedford Dry Grassland (BDG), Kowie Thicket (KT) and Bhisho Thornveld (BT). Special attention was paid to the lower perineum, neck, dewlap and ventral body parts which are the preferred sites for blue ticks during sampling. In this study, 9 species of ticks which grouped under 5 genera were identified. A total of 4382 females and 3708 males of R. (B.) decoloratus were recovered during the survey. Of the ticks (n=2885) collected from the vegetation, R. (B.) decoloratus was the most  abundant species with a relative prevalence of 58.16%, followed by R. appendiculatus (18.37%) and R. evertsi evertsi (16.90%). Least abundant ticks were H. rufipes (2.98%), A. hebraeum (2.46%), H. elliptica (0.38%), R. follis (0.34%), I. pilosus (0.24%) and R. simus (0.17%). The distribution of R. (B.) decoloratus ticks differ significantly (P < 0.05) among the vegetation types. More (P < 0.05) engorged R. (B.) decoloratus were collected in KT during summer season compared to other vegetation types. R. (B.) microplus was not found in the present study, signifying that it is not yet established in western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province and as such, continuous monitoring would be advisable.