The effect of chemical tick control on cattle on free-living ixodid ticks and on ticks parasitic on sympatric impala in the Central Province, Zambia

Cattle on a mixed cattle and wildlife farm in the Central Province of Zambia were regularly treated with acaricides. This resulted in a reduction in the abundance of certain free-living ixodid ticks on the vegetation, and of ticks parasitic on sympatric impala Aepyceros melampus when compared with a neighbouring ranch where only game is kept and no chemical control is practised. The ticks most severely affected by chemical control were Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. Boophilus decoloratus appeared to be unaffected, possibly because of acaricidal resistance. Some tick control measures on wildlife are discussed.