| dc.description.abstract | This study was undertaken to examine whether different
poputatIons of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the African brown ear
tick, found inhabiting different geographically isolated zones in
Kenya are biologically different to such an extent that they maybe
assigned subspecies status.
The biological characteristics investigated included size of
unfed females, engorgement weights of larvae, nymphs and females, egg
production, duration of moulting of larvae and nymphs, isoenzyme
studies and comparative transmission of Theileria ~ stocks by .B.
appendiculatus. Ticks were collected from five geographically
isolated zones in Kenya for investigation. The work was carried out
to provide epidemiological information for Fast Coast fever (ECF)
control.
In this three-host tick species, some significant differences
in weights of engorged nymphs and females; size of unfed females,
weights of eggs per tick and moulting duration were noted between the
different tick stocks. In the case of engorged females, statistical
differences were noted between Kilifi (FSI) and Kiambu (FS2); Kilifi
and South Nyanza (FS4); and, uasin Gishu(FS3) and Muguga laboratory
(MLS) tick populations | en |
