A survey to determine the species of ticks infesting camels, sheep and goats in the semi-arid rangelands of Kenya showed that Hyalomma trancatum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus pravus were the most abundant, in that order. Most of the ticks were restricted to the predilection sites with evidence of tissue damage. When this occurred on the lower extremities of the limbs, abscesses and lameness developed. In camels, ticks attached on the eyelids causing excessive irritation, lacrimation and conjunctivitis. Thin and thick blood smears were negative for haemoparasites, and during the study period no animals died as a result of ticks and tick-borne diseases. The absence of tick-borne diseases and the low numbers of ticks in the hosts demonstrated that the indiscriminate use of acaricides, especially on camel herds, is unnecessary. Conventional methods of herd spray are suggested, but the use of slow-release devices and pour-ons would be more suitable in this environment if it can be demonstrated that they are economically justifiable.
A tick survey was done on sheep and goats in Siaya and Kakamega Districts, Kenya between October 1980 and October 1981. Most of the animals were found to carry one to 10 ticks with no significant difference between sheep and goats. The most abundant species was R. appendiculatus followed by R. evertsi. There were more male than female ticks found on the animals. Thirty per cent of the farms visited practised the hand picking method of tick control while 14% regularly dipped their animals.
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