Ecological studies of ixodid ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) in Zambia. II. Ticks found on small mammals and birds

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Ticks were collected from 2136 small mammals, comprising 5 bats (5 species), 14 elephant shrews (3 species), 84 Crocidura shrews (5 species), 25 hares (1 species), 10 small carnivores (3 species), 3 hyraxes (1 species) 1998 rodents (33 species), and from 41 birds (19 species) at various localities in Zambia. From these hosts 6568 ticks (4384 larvae, 1686 nymphs, 317 males and 181 females) were recovered. Twenty-three species were positively identified and nineteen other species were assigned to genus or species-group. Host and tick records are tabulated by regions collected and for each of the two regions with the largest collections, the records are tabulated by months. The ticks collected in the high montane area near the Malawi border differed significantly from collections in other areas studied, reflecting host and climate differences. In the two areas tabulated by month, most of the immature ticks were recovered in the cool dry winter months (April to August).