Parasites of cattle in the south western Orange Free State

A number of young Friesian oxen were slaughtered (one at a time) for parasite recovery for 12 consecutive months, from April 1987 to March 1988, on a farm in the Fauresmith district of the south western Orange Free State. A total of 5 ixodid and one argasid tick species, 2 lice species, plus one nematode species and one cestode species, were recovered. Peak numbers of adult Hyalomma marginatum rufipes were present from November 1987 to February 1988, while the largest numbers of Hyalomma truncatum were recovered during September 1987 and from November 1987 to January 1988. Adult Ixodes rubicundus were recovered only during April and June 1987. Adult ticks of a Rhipicephalus sp. near R. punctatus were present during April and from September to November 1987 and in January 1988. No pattern of seasonal abundance was evident for the other tick species, the lice or the helminths.