Table Of Content,OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 134
or h
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Zoolog-cal urv y of Ind-a
The Ixodid Ticks of Zambia
(Acarina: Ixodidae)
study of Distribution, Ecology and Host Relat'onships)
(A
• K. Tandon
Zoologl al urv y of India
RECORDS OF THE
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 134
THE IXODID TICKS OF ZAMBIA
(ACARINA: IXODIDAE)
(A study of Distribution, Ecology and Host Relationships)
s.
K. TANDON
Zoological Survey of Indial Calcutta 700 053
Edited by the Director
Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
1991
© Copyright, 1991 Government of India
~ublishcd: August 1991
Price
Indian Rs. 175.00
Foreign : $ 12.00 £ 8.00
Published by
The Director, Zoological Survey. of India, Calcutta
Laser set by Ncatpoint Photocomposers. 6A Suddcr Street. Calcutta 700 016
and printed by Independent Printers, Calcutta 700 026.
RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
OCCASIONAL PAPER
No.134 1991 Pages 1-175
Acknowledgcments
Introduction 1
Review of The Li lcralure ... 5
Physiography, Climatc, Vegetation, etc. of Zambia
Physio!:,Traphy 7
Climate 9
Rainfall 10
Temperature 12
Humidity 13
Vegetation 13
Soils 17
Livestock of Zam bia
Populations 21
Breeds of Cattle 21
Geographical distribution 22
Relauonship to tsetse fly and tick borne diseases 23
Animal husbandry 24
Material and Methods 27
The Tick Species 29
...
Genus 1. Afnblyomma 29
Genus 2. Aponoma 44
Genus 3. Boophilus 47
Genus 4. Derrnacentor 52
Genus 5. J-J aenUlphysalis 54
Genus 6. !Iyalomrna 62
Genus 7. Ixodes 67
Genus 8. R hipicentor 77
Genus 9. R hipicephal us 78
Geographical Distribution of Ticks In Zambia 123
Hosl-}?arasite List 129
Part I DOlneslic mamlnals 129
Part II Wild mammals 133
Part III Birds 145
Part I V Reptiles 147
Gazetteer 148
References 164
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity of expressing my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. S. M.
Silangwa, Secretary General, National Council for Scientific Research, for very valuable
suggestions, constant encouragement and facilities made available to carry out this work
at the Livestock and Pest Research Centre, Chilanga.
The entire manuscript has been critical1y read by my colleague Dr. 1. B. Jayasinghe,
former Head of the Livestock and Pest Research Centre, National Council for Scientific
Research. His valuable suggestions and help is most gratefully acknowled!ied.
I am thankful to Drs. A. 1. Bhutla and A. K. Oteng, former heads of the then Pest
Research Unit, for assistance in various ways during the initial stages of the project.
Here, I wish to express my appreciation and thanks to following individuals for their
support in many ways:
Dr. B. K. Tikader, Dr. B. S. Lamba, former Directors, Zoological Survey of India,
Calcutta, for encouragement at all times; Dr. Asket Singh, Scientist SF - in-charge,
Zoological Survey of India for providing laboratory facilities for final completion of
this Monograph; Drs. O. B. Chhotani, Kuldip Rai and M.S. Shishodia of the
Zoological Survey of India for help in various ways over the years.Late Dr. H.
Hoogstraal, United States Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cario, for
providing many of his scientific publications.
Dr. R. A. I. Norval, Veterinary Research Laboratory, Causeway, Harare, Zimbawe,
for the specimens of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis and some important publications
on ticks.
The Director, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. for
communications on medical and veterinary zoology pertaining to ticks. Professor G.
W. Howrad, Department of Biology, University of Zambia for collections of ticks
from game animals.
Dr. M. H. CoIba, Assistant Professor (Research) Memorial University of
Newfoundland, Canada for information on Zambian species of genus Ixodes.
Dr. G. I. Akafekwa, former Director, Department of Veterinary & Tsetse Control
Services; Dr. H. G. B. Chizyuka, Director (Research) Central Veterinary Research
Institute, Bahnoral; Dr. H. F. Schels, Team Leader, FAOIUNDP Project on Animal
Health Control in Zambia; Dr. M. A. G. Awan, former, Assistant Director
(Research) Centre Veterinary Research Institute, Mazabuka.
Messrs G. M. Mubita, S.Mubita and A. K. Daka Survey Department, Government
of the Republic of Zambia, for tracing obscure locality references.
Mr. A. K. Chibwa, Mr. A. P. Williams, Mr. A. R. M~ewa, and Mr. M. Akafekwa,
Cartography Section and Shri Arun Ghosh, Shri N. M. Chatterjee and Shri Pradeep
Saha of Artist Section of Zooligical Survey of India, for their ungrudging help in
the preparation of maps and figures.
Dr. F. P. Zulu, Dr. 1. C. Purakal, Dr. K. D. S. Kathuria and Dr. D. M. Wanchinga,
Rec. zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper No.134
my colleagues at the Livestock & Pest Research Centre for their con~inued
assistance during this assignment.
Mr. L. M. Diddee, former Biometrician, National Council for Scientific Research.
Mr. W. C. Mushipi and."Mr. D. H. Makondo, Documentation and Information
Centre, National Council for Scientific Research for assistance in procuring some
important publications 9n ticks.
Dr R. K. Raju, former Soil Spe~ialist, Central Agricultural Research Station, Mt.
Makulu, for chccking the Chapter on soils of Zambia.
Messers. M. Seemani, M. Chilapatisha, K. L. Walusiku and P. Mbewe, Taxonomy
Section, for technical assistan~e during the course of this project.
Chief Agricultural Research Officer, Mt. Makulu, for Ltte liberal library facilities
afforded and the members of the Department of Wildife and National Parks, for
collections of ticks from game animals.
Mr. J. C. Maliko for typing the manuscript in its numerous preliminary drafts and
to Shri A. K. Choudhury for typing this final manuscript.
Finally, a special word of.thanks to my wife Dr. (Mrs) Neclam Tandon, daughter
Kavita and son AtuI for their part in attending to various tasks in connection with
·this project.
INTRODUCTION
Ticks in Zambia arc known to infest a large variety of domestic and wild animals
causing sever economic losses to the animal industry because they harbour and transmit
causative agents of many faLaI diseases which lower the productivity in the affected
animals. besides transmitting diseases, they also cause severe anaemia; and degrade hides
an~ skins as a result of massive infestation. A casual bile of ti.cks also causes paralysis
and toxicosis. Therefore, in order to formulate schelnes to improve the health and
production of livestock it is. essential to study the epidemiologicsl role of the tick fauna
in the country in relation to the habitat, i.e., climate, vegetation and host. It involves
all aspects of tick biology and their dynamics within the enviomment.
Modem biologists have expressed the opinion that there is ·no single species of ticks
that can be· considered uniniportant.Actually,very little is yet known about some of
them and the aetiology of the disease.s. they inOict. But, these ticks have shown
themselves to be highly adapted to the transmission of a variety of disease agents. As
such, it is unwise to dismiss any of them as insignificant.
Even though some of them have been recorded in small numbers, or from
uncommon hosts, they may form an important component of a system about which
much remains to be learnt. Others may be common· on hosts but furtl)cr investigatioll
may be necessary to identify their unrecognised impo.rtance as disease reservoirs. These
little known ticks would, in time, contribute to our knowledge of tick communities and
definition. of ecosystems.
Uvarov (1964) points out that with-agricultural development which is invariably
accom pan iCd ·by ecological changes, hitherto apparently quite unimportant 'species mayl
assume an unpredictable potential for harm. ~n this respect, he puts forward a general
rule that the injurious fauna of a given. crop, in a given country, is pr~duced as a result
of segregation of a reduced number .of species already present in the wild habitat and
reaching pest status owing to improved conditions for e.xistence.
Many years ago, Donitz, Ne~mann, Nutthl and Warburton pioneers of African tick
Taxonomy -described many importarit speCies of the African Ixodidac.-Similarly, Koch,
Lounsbury and Theiler - pioneers of arthropod vector studies - revealed how ticks cripple
the cattle industry in the African continent. Even at that time, ways of preventing such
losses were known but that knowledge was put to little use.
Today, the losses due to tick - borne diseases are even greater or as heavy as they
were at the beginning .of the century. Their annual total is said to exceed that due to all
other disease agents put together.
Biologists and veterinary parasitologists having spent many years on the control of
tick borne diseases have now realised that a mere knowledge of the vector and a means
of destroying it is not enough. There are other important factors, among them being a
sound knowledge of the distrbution and ecology of the tick.
The present work was undertaken on that basis and three parallel lines of
i.Dvestigation were undertaken; (a) a survey and critical review of the literature of the
ixodid ticks of southern Africa, in general, and Zambia in particular; (b) examination
and identification of the already available ixodid tick collections amounting to over two
2 Rec. zool. Surv.lndia. Occ. Paper No.134
hundred thousand specimens; (c) collection and identification of new material including
field and laboratory observations on the ecology of the tick species.
Considering that the findings would serve as a guide and reference for the future, all
the information obtained is being embodied in this monograph. Here, an attempt has
been m~de to assemble an4 analyse, as much as possible all available information,
published and otherwise, with regard to descriptions available in literature and on the
ecology and host relationship of ixodid ticks of Zambia that have been
distribution~
recorded so far.
This monograph is intended for the use of the student, the extension worker and the
professional alike and serves as. a basis for future investigations dealing with the basic
problems of tick biology, within the rapidly changing ecological picture of the country.
TANDON : The Ixodid Ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) of Zambia 3
JI"
AD MINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS
Z A R [
,.,
ANGOLA
Map 1. Political divisions (Provinces and Districts) of Zambia
