Displacement of Boophilus decoloratus by Boophilus microplus in the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa - PubMed (original) (raw)

Displacement of Boophilus decoloratus by Boophilus microplus in the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa

M H Tønnesen et al. Exp Appl Acarol. 2004.

Abstract

Boophilus ticks (n = 25,987) were collected from cattle at 30 communal dip tanks and five commercial farms in the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa, between May 1999 and December 2001. Only 6.6% were Boophilus decoloratus, while 93.4% were Boophilus microplus, a tick that had not been reported from this area previously. B. microplus was the most common Boophilus tick on communal dip tank cattle, while B. decoloratus was more commonly found on commercial farms. Where the two species occurred together, B. microplus tended to displace B. decoloratus. The displacement was almost complete at the communal dip tanks, while on the commercial farms the population change was still in progress at the end of the survey. The present study demonstrated that a postulated reproductive interference was insufficient in preventing B. microplus from spreading when the climatic conditions were favourable to this species, as the displacement in most of the areas appeared to be rapid and complete.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Aust Vet J. 1973 Jun;49(6):284-9 - PubMed
    1. Parasitol Res. 1988;74(4):324-30 - PubMed
    1. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1978 Sep;45(3):149-53 - PubMed
    1. J Med Entomol. 1992 Jul;29(4):690-7 - PubMed
    1. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1981 Dec;48(4):215-23 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources