title: Survey of the livestock ticks of the North West province, South Africa.
abstract: Ticks, as vectors of disease and damage agents, impact directly and indirectly on the  economy of the livestock industry in southern Africa. This study surveyed the occurrence  and distribution of ticks infesting livestock across the North West province, South Africa.  During three phases in consecutive years, officers of the provincial Veterinary Department  collected specimens monthly from livestock hosts at specified sites across the province. Data  analysis constituted the fourth phase of the study. A total of 1090 collections from 265 sites  yielded 42 566 tick specimens, comprising 22 different tick species (18 ixodids, 4 argasids).  The specimens represent all of the major tick vectors of disease that occur in South Africa.  The major tick-borne diseases (i.e. heartwater, both African and Asiatic bovine babesiosis and  anaplasmosis) were found to be prevalent mainly in the north-eastern region of the province,  which also displayed the highest tick species diversity. The central region appears transitory to  some of the major vectors. Although some tick species were contained within specific regions,  others were widespread across the province. Associated serology data show that most herds  sampled in areas endemic for babesiosis and anaplasmosis in the north-eastern region are  endemically unstable and at risk to these tick-borne diseases should vector control measures  become ineffective.
authors: Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Programme, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. spickettam@arc.agric.za.
authors: Arthur M
authors: AM
authors: Spickett
authors: I Heloise
authors: IH
authors: Heyne
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D058751:Livestock / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development*