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

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 199 - 208
• Main Authors: Tonnesen, M.H, Penzhorn, B.L, Bryson, N.R, Stoltsz, W.H, Masibigiri, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.01.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Boophilus decoloratus; Boophilus microplus; Cattle; cattle dip tanks; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Climatic conditions; Commercial farms; competitive exclusion; ecological invasion; farms; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; geographical distribution; Ixodidae; Ixodidae - classification; Ixodidae - growth & development; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; South Africa; surveys; tick control; tick infestations; Tick Infestations - parasitology; Tick Infestations - veterinary; ticks; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; South Africa; Africa; Parasitiformes; Protozoal disease; Competitive exclusion; Parasite; Parasitosis; Babesiasis; Infection; Arachnida; Population survey; Acari; Geographic distribution; Ixodida; Arthropoda; Interspecific competition; Boophilus microplus; Livestock; Ectoparasite; Invertebrata; Sanitary surveillance; Vector; Ixodidae
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1023/b:appa.0000021789.44411.b5

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.