Tick Infestation of African Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer caffer) in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

Abstract

Eighteen African buffaloes in Kilombero Game Controlled Area, South-eastern Tanzania, were examined for tick infestation. A total of seven tick species; Amblyomma eburneum, Amblyomma gemma, Amblyomma tholloni, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus compositus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus simus simus were collected from simultaneously examined 32 hosts of seven herbivore species including the African buffalo. Hydropericardium, petechial hemorrhage in the epicardium, myocardium and endocardium were diagnosed in a female adult buffalo. By macroscopic observation, it was diagnosed as the tick-borne rickettial disease, heartwater.