An undescribed Rhipicephalus species associated with field paralysis of Angora goats

Paralysis of Angora goat kids caused by adult ticks, which most probably belong to an undescribed species of the Rhipicephalus pravus group, is described. Confirmed cases of paralysis occurred in the south-western Orange Free State between the second half of September and the first half of November as well as during the first half of February. The mean female tick burdens (mean = 21.4) of paralysed Angora kids were significantly higher than those of healthy kids (mean = 4.4). The predilection attachment site of the adult ticks was the ears of the goats. The elephant shrew Elephantulus myurus is a preferred host of the immature stages whereas the scrub hare Lepus saxatilis serves as an important host for the adult ticks.