Ecology, distribution and host relationships of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting livestock in Mali

Abstract

A survey for ticks on livestock with emphasis on ticks parasitizing cattle was conducted below 16°N lat. in Mali. Seventeen species of ixodid ticks were recovered from cattle, 12 from sheep, five from goat, four from horse, one from donkey and four from camel. Amblyomma variegatum (F.), Boophilus geigyi Aeschlimann & Morel, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes Koch and H. truncatum Koch were widespread, and could each be collected as adults from cattle throughout the year in certain regions. A. variegatum was most numerous from the tropical woodlands to the Sahelo-Sudanian steppe. The prevalence of B. geigyi in Mali confirms an extended distribution of this species in West Africa. B. annulatus (Say) and B. decoloratus (Koch) were prevalent in the inland delta area and in south-western Mali. H. m. rufipes and H. truncatum were most numerous in the Sudanian and Sahelo-Sudanian steppe. H. dromedarii Koch, H. impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke and H. impressum Koch were collected in the steppeland areas. H. nitidum Schulze was collected for the first time in Mali. This comparatively more hydrophilic species was prevalent in the North Guinean forest and Sudano-Guinean vegetation zones. Of eight Rhipicephalus species from livestock, seven were collected from cattle: R. cuspidatus Neumann, R. evertsi evertsi Neumann, R. guilhoni Morel & Vassiliades, R. muhsamae Morel & Vassiliades, R. sanguineus (Latreille), R. senegalensis Koch and R. lunulatus Neumann. R. sulcatus Neumann was obtained only from sheep. The distribution and phytoclimatic associations of these species are discussed.