The relative abundance of Amblyomma tick infestations in relation to the prevalence of heartwater (Ehrlichia ruminantium infection) in goats in the area of Mnisi (Mpumalanga), South Africa

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to determine the relative abundance of Amblyomma tick infestations in relation to the prevalence of heartwater (Ehrlichia ruminantium infection) in goats in the area of Mnisi (Mpumalanga), South Africa. Indigenous goats belonging to small-scale farmers in Mnisi (Mpumalanga), South Africa, were sampled for ticks during the period June to July 2013. Five Ixodid tick species, of which the majority were immature ticks, were collected from the goats (n = 117) in Mnisi (Mpumalanga). Amblyomma hebraeum was the most numerous of these, followed by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Forty samples with Amblyomma hebraeum ticks were assessed for Ehrlichia ruminantium infection with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Reverse Line Blot hybridization (RLB). The prevalence of infection detected by the PCR-RLB in adult ticks was 13% (3/23) and for the pooled nymphs 11,8% (2/17). The substantial numbers of Amblyomma hebraeum and the relative high prevalence of Ehrlichia ruminantium in this area will make the import of high- producing animals difficult.