1
|
Halajian A, Cuozzo FP, Heyne H, Sauther ML, Linden B, Linden J, Tordiffe AS, Rampedi KM, Hornok S. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing bushbabies (Mammalia: Galagidae) in a biodiversity hotspot of northern South Africa. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102313. [PMID: 38278012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
South Africa has six species of primates, three of which are bushbabies (family Galagidae). Very little information is available on their parasites due to the lack of longitudinal studies, although Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma hebraeum and Haemaphysalis elliptica were previously reported from the brown greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus) in South Africa. During 2014-2019, 83 O. crassicaudatus (70 live-trapped and 13 deceased animals) were checked for the presence of hard ticks, all from Limpopo Province, South Africa. Seventy-three of 83 (88 %) galagos were found to be tick-infested. Among ixodid genera, Haemaphysalis had the highest prevalence (46 % of the bushbabies), followed by Rhipicephalus (25 %) and Ixodes (18 %). In total, ten tick species were identified. Importantly, all infestations were monospecific. Ticks occurred on various body parts of bushbabies, thus no predilection site was noted. In conclusion, while previously only three ixodid species were known to infest bushbabies in South Africa, the present study showed that these animals can be parasitized by a much broader range of hard ticks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Halajian
- Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
| | - Frank P Cuozzo
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Heloise Heyne
- 3 Kappertjie Crescent, Doornpoort, Pretoria 0186 South Africa
| | - Michelle L Sauther
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Campus Box 233, Boulder, CO 80509, United States
| | - Birthe Linden
- SARChI Chair on Biodiversity Value and Change, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950 South Africa
| | - Jabu Linden
- P. O. Box 1536 Louis Trichardt Makhado, South Africa
| | - Adrian Sw Tordiffe
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Research and Scientific Services, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Human Metabolomics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary; HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Baauw AH, Heyne H, Williams KS, Hill RA, Heitkönig IMA, Williams ST. First records of Hyalomma rufipes and Ixodes neitzi (Acari: Ixodidae) found on large carnivores in South Africa. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:128-131. [PMID: 30253935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are important disease vectors for large carnivores, but the composition of the tick communities that parasitize carnivores is poorly understood. We collected ticks from leopards (Panthera pardus) and brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, to determine which species feed on these carnivores. We identified a total of eight tick species belonging to six genera, and recorded Ixodes neitzi and Hyalomma rufipes on P. pardus for the first time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Baauw
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Heloise Heyne
- Epidemiology, Parasites & Vectors, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Kathryn S Williams
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa
| | - Russell A Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa; Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
| | - Ignas M A Heitkönig
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Samual T Williams
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa; Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa; Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (IGDORE), Hoedspruit, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Janion-Scheepers C, Deharveng L, Bedos A, Chown SL. Updated list of Collembola species currently recorded from South Africa. Zookeys 2015:55-88. [PMID: 26019671 PMCID: PMC4440272 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.503.8966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the abundance and richness of species is one of the most fundamental steps in effecting their conservation. Despite global recognition of the significance of the below-ground component of diversity for ecosystem functioning, the soil remains a poorly studied terrestrial ecosystem. In South Africa, knowledge is increasing for a variety of soil faunal groups, but many still remain poorly understood. We have started to address this gap in the knowledge of South African soil biodiversity by focusing on the Collembola in an integrated project that encompasses systematics, barcoding and ecological assessments. Here we provide an updated list of the Collembola species from South Africa. A total of 124 species from 61 genera and 17 families has been recorded, of which 75 are considered endemic, 24 widespread, and 25 introduced. This total number of species excludes the 36 species we consider to be dubious. From the published data, Collembola species richness is high compared to other African countries, but low compared to European countries. This is largely a consequence of poor sampling in the African region, as our discovery of many new species in South Africa demonstrates. Our analyses also show that much ongoing work will be required before a reasonably comprehensive and spatially explicit picture of South Africa’s springtail fauna can be provided, which may well exceed 1000 species. Such work will be necessary to help South Africa meet its commitments to biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of the 2020 Aichi targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlene Janion-Scheepers
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa ; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louis Deharveng
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité ISYEB - UMR 7205 - CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, EPHE, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 45 rue Buffon, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Anne Bedos
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité ISYEB - UMR 7205 - CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, EPHE, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 45 rue Buffon, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Muslimin M, Wilson JJ, Ghazali ARM, Braima KA, Jeffery J, Wan-Nor F, Alaa-Eldin ME, Mohd-Zin SW, Wan-Yusoff WS, Norma-Rashid Y, Lau YL, Rohela M, Abdul-Aziz NM. First report of brown widow spider sightings in Peninsular Malaysia and notes on its global distribution. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2015; 21:11. [PMID: 25995738 PMCID: PMC4438562 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-015-0010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus Koch, 1841) has colonised many parts of the world from its continent of origin, Africa. By at least 1841, the species had successfully established populations in South America and has more recently expanded its range to the southern states of North America. This highly adaptable spider has been far more successful in finding its niche around the world than its famous cousins, the black widow, Latrodectus mactans, found in the south-eastern states of North America, and the red-back, Latrodectus hasselti, found mostly in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. METHODS We performed an extensive web search of brown widow sightings and mapped the location of each sighting using ArcGIS. Specimens reputedly of the species L. geometricus were collected at three localities in Peninsular Malaysia. The spiders were identified and documented based on an examination of morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. RESULTS The spiders found in Peninsular Malaysia were confirmed to be Latrodectus geometricus based on their morphological characteristics and DNA barcodes. We recorded 354 sightings of the brown widow in 58 countries, including Peninsular Malaysia. CONCLUSION Reports from the Americas and the Far East suggest a global-wide invasion of the brown widow spider. Herein we report the arrival of the brown widow spider in Peninsular Malaysia and provide notes on the identification of the species and its recently expanded range.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustakiza Muslimin
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - John-James Wilson
- />Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- />Museum of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amir-Ridhwan M Ghazali
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kamil A Braima
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - John Jeffery
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fitri Wan-Nor
- />Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Mohamed E Alaa-Eldin
- />Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Siti-Waheeda Mohd-Zin
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wan S Wan-Yusoff
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yusoff Norma-Rashid
- />Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee L Lau
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mahmud Rohela
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Noraishah M Abdul-Aziz
- />Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Muelelwa M, Foord S, Dippenaar-Schoeman A, Stam E. Towards a Standardized and Optimized Protocol for Rapid Biodiversity Assessments: Spider Species Richness and Assemblage Composition in Two Savanna Vegetation Types. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.3377/004.045.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
6
|
Haddad CR, Russell-Smith A. Spider family composition and species richness patterns in two savannah habitats along the eastern coastal plain of Africa. Afr J Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01128.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
7
|
Foord SH, Mafadza MM, Dippenaar-Schoeman AS, Van Rensburg BJ. Micro-scale heterogeneity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Soutpansberg, South Africa: a comparative survey and inventory in representative habitats. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2008. [DOI: 10.3377/1562-7020-43.2.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|