Parasites of South African wildlife. VI. Helminths of blue duikers, Cephalophus monticola, in Natal.

The helminths of 3 blue duikers, Cephalophus monticola, from 3 nature reserves in Natal were collected, counted and identified. Taenia hydatigena larvae, a race of Cooperia rotundispiculum, gongylonema angistris, Trichostrongylus falculatus and Trichostrongylus rugatus appear to be new parasite records for blue duikers in South Africa.

Parasites of South African wildlife. III. Helminths of common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, in Natal.

Twenty-six common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, were shot in pairs at monthly intervals for 13 consecutive months in the Himeville region of Natal. Ten nematode species, 2 cestodes and 1 trematode were recovered from these animals. Cooperia yoshidai was both the most numerous and most prevalent worm and peak burdens occurred during summer. Thirty-one reedbuck, killed at different intervals in various localities within the St. Lucia Reserve, harboured between 4 and 11 nematode species, 1 cestode and 1 trematode. With the exception of 4 reedbuck shot during January 1987, in which Haemonchus contortus was the most abundant worm, C. yoshidai was again both the most abundant and most prevalent worm. Peak burdens of this nematode occurred during autumn to spring. The helminths of 5 impala, Aepyceros melampus, also shot in the St. Lucia Reserve were examined. Some of the worm species of impala were also found in the reedbuck from the same locality and the helminths of the 2 antelope species are compared. An amended list, which includes several new records of the parasites of common reedbuck in South Africa is provided.

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXIV. Arthropod parasites of bushbuck and common duiker in the Weza State Forest, Natal.

One bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, and 1 common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, were shot each month from May 1983 to May 1984 in the Weza State Forest, Natal, i.e. a total of 13 animals of each species. The bushbuck were infested with 8 ixodid tick species, 2 louse species and a louse-fly species. The common duiker harboured 7 tick species and 2 louse species. Ticks of the genus Ixodes were the most numerous and prevalent on both antelope species, but no pattern of seasonal abundance was evident. Although only small numbers were recovered, adult Haemaphysalis aciculifer were present from September to February, nymphs of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus from May to September, and adult Rhipicephalus lunulatus from December to March. The louse-fly, Lipoptena paradoxa, was recovered from some of the bushbuck from October to May.

Arthropod parasites of common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, in Natal.

Twenty-five common reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, from the Himeville region, 21 from the Eastern Shores Nature Reserve, 4 from the Charter's Creek Nature Reserve and 2 from the St Lucia Game Park, Natal were examined for arthropod parasites. The reedbuck from Himeville were infested with 4 ixodid tick species, those from the Eastern Shores with 7 species and those from Charter's Creek and St Lucia with 6 species. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was the only tick common to the 4 localities. The lice Damalinia reduncae and Linognathus fahrenholzi were present on the reedbuck from each locality. In addition 3 red duiker, Cephalophus natalensis, and 2 bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, from the Charter's Creek Nature Reserve plus 2 impala, Aepyceros melampus, from the St Lucia Game Park were examined for ixodid ticks. The red duiker were infested with 3 tick species and the bushbuck and impala with 4 each.

Parasites of South African wildlife. I. Helminths of bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, and grey duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, from the Weza State Forest, Natal.

Thirteen bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, and 13 grey duikers, Sylvicapra grimmia, were culled in the Weza State Forest, Natal, from May 1983-May 1984. The maximum number of worms recovered from a single bushbuck was 393. Of the total number of worms recovered from all the bushbuck, Paracooperia devossi were the most numerous, followed by Ostertagia harrisi, a Cooperia sp. and Haemonchus vegliai. P. devossi and O. harrisi were more numerous during winter and the Cooperia sp. more numerous during summer. Grey duiker harboured from 0-230 worms. The same Cooperia sp. as was recovered from the bushbuck and Trichostrongylus axei were the most numerous. The larvae of Taenia hydatigena were recovered from 5 duikers. The Cooperia sp. was more numerous during summer and T. axei during winter, the remaining worms showing no seasonal pattern of abundance. Amended lists of the helminth parasites found in these antelope in the Republic of South Africa are provided.

The helminths of various antelope species from Natal.

Helminth parasites were collected from 2 bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, 2 red duiker, Cephalophus natalensis, 1 oribi, Ourebia ourebi, and 4 reedbuck, Redunca arundinum, that died or were culled in various parts of Natal. One trematode genus, 1 cestode genus and 12 nematode species were recovered. Haemonchus contortus. Ostertagia harrisi, Trichostrongylus capricola, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Cooperia rotundispiculum and Setaria scalprum are new parasite records for the red duiker. Trichostrongylus colubriformis is a new parasite record for the oribi and Longistrongylus schrenki, Trichostrongylus falculatus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Dictyocaulus viviparus are recorded from the reedbuck for the first time. An unidentified paramphistome was also recovered from the reedbuck.

Vitamin B12 and its binding proteins in the serum of some wild game species.

The concentration of vitamin B12 and its binding proteins was measured in the impala, nyala, wildebeest, zebra, bushpig, warthog, and rhino, all existing in their natural state. Marked differences were found between some species. The variations observed are probably true species differences, unrelated to environmental factors.