Arthropod parasites of common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, in Natal

Abstract

Twenty-five common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, from the Himeville region, 21 from the Eastern Shores Nature Reserve, 4 from the Charter's Creek Nature Reserve and 2 from the St Lucia Game Park, Natal were examined for arthropod parasites. The reedbuck from Himeville were infested with 4 ixodid tick species, those from the Eastern Shores with 7 species and those from Charter's Creek and St Lucia with 6 species. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was the only tick common to the 4 localities. The lice Damalinia reduncae and Linognathus fahrenholzi were present on the reedbuck from each locality. In addition 3 red duiker, Cephalophus natalensis, and 2 bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, from the Charter's Creek Nature Reserve plus 2 impala, Aepyceros melampus, from the St Lucia Game Park were examined for ixodid ticks. The red duiker were infested with 3 tick species and the bushbuck and impala with 4 each.