Materials and Methods

Ethical clearance

The University of Fort Hare Ethics Committee granted the ethical clearance (REC-270710-02-RA) before the commencement of the study. Permission was granted by the farmers before any ticks collection could commence from their animals. Ticks collection was done with help of veterinary personnel and animal health technicians responsible for handling and treating the animals.

Study area, tick collection and identifications.

The study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2018 in Raymond Mhlaba local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. Ticks collection sites and their geographical coordinates are as follow; from Debe, with the following coordinates: 32.836°S 27.154°E, under Raymond Mhlaba local Municipality and Fort Beaufort located at 32° 47’ 0” S, 26° 38’ 0” E. Debe Location shares boundary with Great fish natural reserve which boast of some wild animals like antelope, boars, giraffe, deer, and others. Study site map can be accessed through: - https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.GvQ4IE1x4Slo9oTuUb9EBgHaEk&pid=Api&P=0&w=284&h=176