title: Diversity of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cheetahs (Acinoyx jubatus) at three breeding centres in South Africa and activity patterns of questing ticks.
abstract: Ticks were collected from 191 cheetahs at three breeding centres in North West and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa. Haemaphysalis elliptica, a common tick of large felids, was the most abundant species collected, while Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus simus occurred in lower numbers. In addition to these three species, drag-sampling of the vegetation revealed the presence of Amblyomma marmoreum, Rhipicephalus (B.) decoloratus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis. The presence of free-ranging antelopes, murid rodents and tortoises at the breeding centres probably contributed to the availability of immature tick stages on the vegetation. Diurnal and seasonal questing patterns of ixodid ticks were investigated at monthly intervals at the largest cheetah-breeding centre. Questing ticks were most abundant on the vegetation during the warm summer months. Most questing H. elliptica larvae and nymphs were collected from the vegetation in the early morning and late afternoon and fewest during the middle of the day.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Golezardy
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: Marinda C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Research Associate, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: banie.penzhorn@up.ac.za.
authors.forename: Barend L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Penzhorn
mesh_terms: D002612:Acinonyx / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000469:parasitology; D044822:Biodiversity; D001947:Breeding; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Amblyomma hebraeum; Cheetah; Haemaphysalis elliptica; Questing ticks; Rhipicephalus simus; South Africa