Abstract:
This study compares the prevalence of ixodid tick species on cattle and goats in Maputo Province.
Adult ticks as well as the nymphs of three species, and only the adults of two species were collected
from sets of five cattle at 21 localities throughout the province and compared with those collected from
similar sets of goats at the same places. Amblyomma hebraeum adults and/or nymphs were present
on cattle and on goats at all 21 localities, and 90 cattle and 22 goats were infested with adult ticks.
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus adults and/or nymphs were collected from cattle at 20 and from
goats at 15 localities, and 92 cattle and 34 goats were infested [Chi-square test (x2), P < 0.001]. The
total length of several maturing female R. (Boophilus) microplus collected from cattle and goats exceeded
5 mm, indicating that they successfully engorge on both host species. Rhipicephalus
appendiculatus adults and/or nymphs were present on cattle at 15 and on goats at 13 localities, but
28 cattle and only one goat were infested with adult ticks (x2, P < 0.001). Adult Rhipicephalus evertsi
evertsi were recovered from cattle at 20 and from goats at 17 localities, and 74 cattle and 69 goats
were infested. Adult Rhipicephalus simus were collected from cattle at 18 and from goats at 11 localities
(Fisher’s exact test, P = 0.04), and 60 cattle and 14 goats were infested (x2, P < 0.001). These
findings underscore the advisability of including goats in acaricide application programmes designed
for the control of tick-borne diseases in cattle at the same locality.
