Studies of Biological Diversity of the Tick Rhipicephalds Appendiajia'ius Acarina- Ixodidae in Relationship 'to Transmission of Theileria Parva Aplcomplexa- Theileridae in Kenya

Abstract

This study was undertaken to examine whether different populations of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the African bram ear tick, found inhabiting different geographically isolated zones in Kenya are biologically different to such an extent that they may be assigned subspecies status. The biological characteristics investigated included size of females, engorgement weights of larvae, nymphs and females, egg production, duration of moulting larvae and nymphs, isoenzyme studies and comparative transmission of theileria parva stock by R.apperrliculatus. Ticks were collected from five geographically isolated zones in Kenya for investigation. '!he work was carried out to provide epidemiological information for East Coast fever (ECF) control.