Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma truncatum, Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis

Only a small number of tick species are vectors of important economic diseases or toxicosis in sub-Saharan Africa (see Table 1). These are Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma truncatum, Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis and argasid or soft ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata/porcinus complex. Each of these ticks occurs in specific areas suitable for survival and reproduction. In cattle they transmit diseases of economic importance such as heartwater, babesiosis, theileriosis and anaplasmosis but also non-pathogenic or mild theileriosis, spirochaetosis, benign anaplasmosis, benign babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Diseases affecting sheep and goats are heartwater, anaplasmosis, theileriosis, spirochaetosis and Nairobi sheep disease. Diseases that affect horses, mules and donkeys are piroplasmosis, spirochaetosis and those of pigs are porcine babesiosis and African swine fever.