2025/04/23 by Tamar A. Kendon, Carlos L. Pereira, Carlos Lopes Pereira +6 · 3 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Acinonyx jubatus #Biology #Bird parasitology and diseases #Ecology #Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies #Medicine #Tick #Tick-borne disease #Vector-borne infectious diseases #Veterinary medicine #Wet season #Wildlife
paper · pdf · doi:10.4102/ojvr.v92i1.2206
published in Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 92(1), e1-e5 (AOSIS)
crossref issued 2025/04/23 · crossref published 2025/04/23 · crossref published-online 2025/04/23 · openalex publication_date 2025/04/23 · crossref created 2025/04/23 · crossref deposited 2025/05/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30
Ectoparasites can severely impact wildlife species, both through their feeding behaviour and by facilitating secondary infestations or bacterial infections. Here, we report on two cases of periorbital damage caused by ixodid tick infestations in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), including a rare record of traumatic myiasis in wildlife. Both cheetahs were recently reintroduced to the Marromeu-Coutada Complex in Central Mozambique and had sustained relatively severe injuries. This ostensibly yielded them immunocompromised and thus more vulnerable to tick infestations, particularly when exposed to novel species. These incidents occurred during the peak hot-wet season in which adult tick abundance is likely highest. These cases provide novel insights into the risks of tick infestations for reintroduced cheetahs and the importance of intensive post-release monitoring to allow for timeous veterinary intervention.Contribution: This study falls within the scope of the journal. Ixodid ticks are of veterinary importance for wildlife and domestic animals across Africa because of the associated direct damage and potential spread of tick-borne pathogens. This study investigates two cases of tick infestations in cheetahs recently reintroduced into a tropical environment. The identified risk factors appear to be exposure to novel ectoparasites, injuries, and the hot-wet season. This highlights the need to consider ectoparasite risk when planning wildlife translocations.