Main description:

This is a comprehensive work summarizing the current state of knowledge of the biology of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Maputo Province, Mozambique). It provides an overview of the history of tick research in Southern Africa and the evolution of our knowledge of the ticks' distribution and biology, as well as the methods used to determine tick distribution, abundance and host preference. The morphologies of most of the tick species known to occur in Southern Africa are described and illustrated, and their distributions are described and mapped in relation to the biomes of the region. The known hosts for each tick species are listed, and the tick's host preferences are discussed. Information on most species life cycle in the laboratory and the field, and their seasonal occurrence, is summarized. The diseases of animals and humans transmitted or caused by each tick species are summarized in relation to tick ecology. Aspects of the biology of the major hosts relevant to tick infestations are described, and extensive tick/host and host/tick lists are provided for each country

Contents:

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

CHAPTER 2

History

2.1 South Africa

2.2 Namibia

2.3 Botswana

2.4 Swaziland

2.5 Lesotho

2.6 Maputo Province

CHAPTER 3

Sources of Information and Methods

3.1 Southern Africa: Countries, Topography, Climate and Biomes

3.1.1 Countries

3.1.2 Topography

3.1.3 Temperature and rainfall

3.1.4 Biomes

3.2 Nomenclature

3.2.1 Ticks

3.2.2 Hosts

3.3 Descriptions

3.3.1 Taxonomy

3.3.2 Size

3.3.3 Male to female ratio

3.4 Distribution

3.4.1 South African Tick Survey

3.4.2 Other surveys

3.4.3 Regional distribution

3.5 Tick Collection

3.5.1 Tick collection from live animals

3.5.2 Tick collection from dead animals

3.5.3 Vegetation

3.6 Tick/Host and Host/Tick Lists

3.7 Host Specificity

3.8 Seasonal Abundance

3.9 Life Cycles

3.10 Tick-Borne Diseases

3.11 References

CHAPTER 4

The Genus Amblyomma

CHAPTER 5

The Genus Haemaphysalis

CHAPTER 6

The Genus Hyalomma

CHAPTER 7

The Genus Ixodes

CHAPTER 8

The Genus Rhipicephalus

CHAPTER 9

Ticks belonging to other Genera

CHAPTER 10

Hosts and Host and Vegetation Tick Lists

Hosts

Domestic animals

Humans

Wildlife

Host/Tick Lists

South Africa

Namibia

Botswana

Swaziland

Lesotho

Maputo Province

CHAPTER 11

Tick-Borne Diseases

Animals

Humans