# Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) of the genus Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 in Senegal: a review of host associations, chorology, and identification

Massamba Sylla, Mady Ndiaye, Marc Souris, Jean-Paul Gonzalez

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Massamba Sylla, Mady Ndiaye, Marc Souris, Jean-Paul Gonzalez. Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) of the genus Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 in Senegal: a review of host associations, chorology, and identification. Acarologia, 2018, 58 (4), pp.928-945. 10.24349/acarologia/20184297. hal-01924598

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# Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) of the genus *Haemaphysalis* Koch, 1844 in Senegal: a review of host associations, chorology, and identification

Massamba Sylla<sup>a,b</sup>, Mady Ndiaye<sup>b</sup>, Marc Souris<sup>c</sup>, Jean-Paul Gonzalez<sup>d</sup>

## ABSTRACT

The *Haemaphysalis* genus (Acari, Ixodidae) in Senegal is reviewed. This embodies a summary of specimens collected from vertebrate hosts over three decades. 454 collections were performed over this period (408 from mammals and 46 from birds), representing a total of 5752 ticks in different developmental stages. Seven *Haemaphysalis* spp. were collected, identified, and inventoried including: *H. (Kaiseriana) rugosa*, *H. (Ornithophysalis) hoodi*, *H. (Rhipistoma) houyi*, as well as four other species belonging to the *leachi* group, namely *H. (Rhipistoma) leachi*, *H. (Rh.) moreli*, *H. (Rh.) muhsamae* and *H. (Rh.) spinulosa*. Vertebrate hosts of *Haemaphysalis* species were identified and listed in different ecological zones of Senegal. An identification key of the haemaphysalids of Senegal is proposed, which is also applicable to the haemaphysalid fauna of the Occidental sub-region of the Afrotropical zoogeographical region. The role of these species as potential vectors of zoonotic diseases in Senegal is also discussed.

**Keywords** *Haemaphysalis*; hosts; distribution; diagnosis; Ixodidae; vectors; West Africa

**Zoobank** http://zoobank.org/2C4DABA4-796F-42F6-8E0E-25712CC53E93

## Introduction

The genus *Haemaphysalis* Koch, 1844 belongs to the *Ixodidae* family (*Hyalomminae* sub-family). Haemaphysalid ticks are characterized by a scutum without ornamentation, a distinctive feature among ixodid ticks of the *Metastriata* group. These eyeless and inornate ticks lack adanal and subanal plates in males, while females have two short spurs of unequal length on coxa 1. Some other notable characteristics include: short palpi, usually conical with a large palpal segment 2 extending laterally beyond the basis capituli, at least two times longer than segment 1; short mouthparts; a large rear-facing spur on trochanter I; festoons are also present on the posterior margin. *Haemaphysalis* spp. have a three-host life cycle, are mostly associated with wild animals, but sometimes infest livestock (Morel, 2003). Few studies have been carried out on the *Haemaphysalis* genus so far, and those performed mostly focused on their economic importance to livestock in Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand (Levin, 2016), with less emphasis on their diversity and role as potential vectors and reservoirs of human and animal pathogens. Indeed, some adaptive changes in haemaphysaline behavior such as a shift from wild deer and antelope to domestic cattle, sheep and goats have been noticed (Levin, 2016),

Received 21 December 2017
Accepted 05 November 2018
Published 16 November 2018

Corresponding author
Massamba Sylla:
massylla19@gmail.com

Academic editor
Karen McCoy

DOI
10.24349/acarologia/20184297

Copyright
Sylla M. et al.

Distributed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

<footnote><sup>a</sup> UR 178: Conditions et Territoires d'Émergence des Maladies CTEM, Institut de Recherches pour le Développement, Centre IRD de Hann, B.P. 1386, C. P. 18 524, Dakar, Sénégal.</footnote>

<footnote><sup>b</sup> Unité d'Entomologie, de Bactériologie, de Virologie, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, BP 5005 Dakar, Sénégal.</footnote>

<footnote><sup>c</sup> UR 178 CTEM, IRD, UMR Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE : Aix-Marseille Univ - IRD 190 - Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France.</footnote>

<footnote><sup>d</sup> UR 178 CTEM, IRD, Montpellier, France; Center of Excellence for Emerging & Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), 1800 Kimball Ave, KSU Office Park – CEEZAD Suite 130, Manhattan, KS, USA.</footnote>
implying a potential for the emergence of pathogens associated with wild populations into the peridomestic environment within livestock.

Research was performed on hard ticks (i.e. Ixodids) infesting domestic livestock and wild animals in Senegal in order to establish a list of all ixodid ticks found in Senegal (Sylla et al., 2007; 2008). The knowledge previously acquired on the *Haemaphysalis* genus includes: the description of immature stages of *Haemaphysalis rugosa* (Camicas, 1978); revisiting the taxonomy of the *H. leachi* group, with the description of *H. moreli* (Camicas et al., 1972); the delineation of the *aciculifer* group from the *rugosa* group (Hoogstraal and El Kammah, 1972; Camicas, 1978). More recently, Apanaskevich et al. (2007) screened many collections of *Haemaphysalis*, previously identified as *Haemaphysalis* (*Rhipistoma*) *leachi*, and compared them with typed *H. (Rh.)* *leachi* specimens from North Africa and the holotype specimen of *Haemaphysalis* (*Rhipistoma*) *elliptica*, concluding that many of the Southern and East African ticks previously identified as *H. (Rh.)* *leachi* were misdiagnosed and are actually *H. (Rh.)* *elliptica*.

The present study reviews *Haemaphysalis* species known to occur in different geographic areas of Senegal and describes features of their specific diagnosis, their host associations and their chorology.

## Materials and methods

Most of the data presented here originate from a collection currently held at the laboratory of Medical Zoology, Research Institute for Development (IRD, Mbour Centre, Senegal). This collection has been continuously enriched by different research projects including: research conducted on birds, wild and domestic mammals during the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) program (1987-1993) (Camicas et al., 1990); a project on climatic change and health (Action Thematique Interdisciplinaire, 2003-2004) focusing on tick inventories and the impact of climatic change on their geographical distribution and associated risk of CCHF emergence (Wilson et al., 1990). For these studies, rodents were caught in different geographical areas of Senegal, and ticks were removed from the hosts and preserved in a 70% ethanol solution for further study. More recently, the EDEN project (European Commission Project on "Emerging Diseases in a Changing European Environment: http://www.eden-fp6project.net, 2004-2007) included an investigation of West Nile virus ecology leading to bird trapping and tick collection in the Djoudj National Park of Birds (16°25′N, 16°18′W, Saint Louis Department, Saint Louis Region) and Barkedji (15°17′N, 14°52′W, Linguere Department, Louga Region).

Study sites and tick collections have been presented in detail elsewhere (Sylla et al., 2004; 2007; 2008). Tick collections were mapped at the scale of the squared degree including the locality where each tick sample was collected. Maps were generated using SavGIS software (IRD, www.savgis.org). Geographical position of each locality was given by the gazetteer of Senegal (Board on Geographic Names, 1965, Dpt. of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240, 1965, IV + 194 pp.) or by using a GPSMAP® 62S (Garmin Inc. Wichita KS).

*Haemaphysalis* species diagnosis followed an in-house identification key adapted to the ixodid fauna of the Occidental sub-region of the Afrotropical Region (Matthysse and Colbo, 1987A; Elbl and Anastos, 1966) that follows the systematic terminology of Camicas and Morel (Camicas and Morel, 1977; Camicas et al., 1998; Morel, 2003). Features pointed out by Apanaskevich et al. (2007) for the diagnosis of the *H. (Rh.)* *leachi* group are considered in this study. Vertebrate host terminologies follow Walker (1999a and b) and Wilson and Reeder (1992) for mammals and Cabot et al. (1992A and B) for birds.

## Results

A total of 7 *Haemaphysalis* species, including 3 species of *Haemaphysalis* stricto sensu (*Haemaphysalis* (Kaiseriana) rugosa Santos Dias, 1956; *Haemaphysalis* (Ornithophysalis)
<table><caption>**Table 1** Association of *Haemaphysalis* ticks with their known class of vertebrate hosts in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. % = the percentage of individuals within each life stage for a given species and host class. Total immature = Larvae+Nymph, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Tick species</th><th colspan="4">Class of Mammalia</th><th colspan="4">Class of Aves</th></tr><tr><th>Total Immature L+N</th><th>%</th><th>Total Mature M+F</th><th>%</th><th>Total Immature L+N</th><th>%</th><th>Total Mature M+F</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>H. (Kaiseriana) rugosa (12)</td><td>41</td><td>89.1</td><td>5</td><td>10.9</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Ornithophysalis) hoodi (41)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>41</td><td>69.50</td><td>18</td><td>30.50</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Rhipistoma) houyi (143)</td><td>730</td><td>33.4</td><td>1457</td><td>66.6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Rhipistoma) leachi (203)</td><td>1012</td><td>33.3</td><td>2010</td><td>66.2</td><td>15</td><td>0.5</td><td>1</td><td>0.0</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Rhipistoma) moreli (52)</td><td>3</td><td>0.7</td><td>415</td><td>99.3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Rhipistoma) muhsamae (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>100</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>H. (Rhipistoma) spinulosa (3)</td><td>3</td><td>100</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total ticks collected/life stage</td><td>1789</td><td>31.5</td><td>3888</td><td>68.5</td><td>56</td><td>74.7</td><td>19</td><td>25.3</td></tr><tr><td>Total ticks collected/class (455)</td><td colspan="4">5677 (98.7%)</td><td colspan="4">75 (1.3%)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="4"></td><td colspan="4">5752</td></tr></tbody></table>

hoodi Warburton & Nuttall, 1909; *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) houyi Nuttall & Warburton, 1915) and four species of the *Haemaphysalis leachi* group (*Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) leachi Audouin, 1826; *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) moreli Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1972; *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) muhsamae Santos Dias, 1954; *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) spinulosa Neumann, 1906), were collected from mammals and birds in Senegal (Table 1).

## *Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) rugosa Santos Dias, 1956*

The African antelope spurred-rugose haemaphysalid, was only recorded from mammals (Table 2). The first specimens were collected from wild bovid, mongoose and civet in the Niokolo Koba National Park, NKNP (13°N, 13°W, Tambacounda Reg.) in 1971 and recorded as *Haemaphysalis aciculifer* Warburton, 1913 by Morel (1956), re-identified later by Hoogstraal and El Kammah (1972) as *H. (Ka.) rugosa*. This species has also been recorded from Kedougou (12°33'N, 12°11'W, Kedougou Department, Kedougou Region), Kolda (12°53'N, 14°57'W, Kolda Dpt., Kolda Reg.), and Sangalkam (14°47'N, 17°13'W, Dakar Dpt., Dakar Reg.) (Figure 1).

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1** Collecting sites of *Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) rugosa* indicated in red; blue dots show localization of all other collection sites.</figcaption></figure>
**Haemaphysalis (Ornithophysalis) hoodi Warburton & Nuttall, 1909**

*Haemaphysalis (Ornithophysalis) hoodi* infested birds only (Table 3). Several collection points were obtained for this species throughout Senegal: Gorom (14°49′N, 17°09′W, Dakar Reg.); Sangalkam (14°47′N, 17°13′W, Rufisque Dpt., Dakar Reg.); Saboya (13°39′N, 16°07′W, Nioro Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); Bandia (14°35′N, 17°01′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Kedougou (12°33′N, 12°11′W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg); Kaffrine (14°05′N, 15°33′W, Kaffrine Dpt., Kaffrine Reg.); Missira (13°31′N, 13°31′N; Tambacounda Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.); Kolda (12°53′N, 14°57′W, Kolda Dpt., Kolda Reg.) (Figure 2).

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** Collecting sites of *Haemaphysalis (Ornithophysalis) hoodi* indicated in red; blue dots show localization of all other collection sites.</figcaption></figure>

**Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) houyi Nuttall & Warburton, 1915**

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) houyi* was exclusively collected from the African Ground Squirrel, *Xerus erythropus* (Desmarest, 1817) (Mammalia, Rodentia, Sciuridae) (Table 4). Records of this African tick in Senegal are from several locations: Bandia Forest reserve (14°35′N, 17°01′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Saboya Forest reserve (13°39′N, 16°07′W, Nioro-du-Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); 10km North of Kedougou (12°33′N, 12°11′W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); Santhiaba Mandjak (12°22′N, 16°33′W, Ziguinchor Dpt., Casamance Reg.); National Park of Basse Casamance, NPBC (12°N, 16°W, Oussouye Dpt., Casamance Reg.); Fadiga (12°33′N, 12°12′W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); from the area between Sare Dioulde and Sinthian Koundara (13°27′N, 14°20′W, Velingara Dpt., Kolda Reg.) (Figure 3).

**Haemaphysalis leachi group Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1972**

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi* Audouin, 1826: 203 collections were obtained from wild animals including 5 from birds (Table 5) and 198 from mammals (Table 6). At the pre-imaginal stages, it is associated with Carnivores of the Herpestidae and Viverridae families. Immatures are also frequently collected from Insectivora species. In Senegal, the yellow dog-tick, *H. leachi*, has been recorded from: Bandia Forest reserve (14°35′N, 17°01′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Richard-Toll 16°28′N, 15°41′W, Saint-Louis Dpt., Saint Louis Reg.); Bode, Podor (16°27′N, 14°21′W, Podor Dpt., Saint Louis Reg.); Savoigne (16°12′N, 16°17′W, Saint-Louis Dpt., Saint Louis Reg.); Kedougou (12°33′N, 12°11′W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.).
<table><caption>**Table 2** Hosts of *Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) rugosa* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = Larvae+Nymph, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="3">Host</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name<br>Common name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="6">Artiodactyla (3)</td><td rowspan="5">Bovidae (3)</td><td>Ourebia ourebi (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Oribi</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Redunca redunca (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Reedbuck</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tragelaphus scriptus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Bushbuck</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Mammalia, Artiodactyla (3)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="6">Carnivora (7)</td><td rowspan="4">Herpestidae (2)</td><td>Herpestes ichneumon (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>African mongoose</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ichneumia albicauda (1)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>White-tailed mongoose</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="5">Viverridae (5)</td><td>Civettis civetta (1)</td><td></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>African civet</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Genetta pardina (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Forest genet</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pseudogenetta villiersi (3)</td><td>30</td><td>4</td><td>34</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>30</td><td>5</td><td>35</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>36</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Mammalia, Carnivora (7)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>38</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Lagomorpha (1)</td><td>Leporidae (1)</td><td>Lepus crawshayi (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td>Crawshay's hare</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Mammalia, Lagomorpha (1)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Rodentia (1)</td><td>Muridae (1)</td><td>Gerbillus sp. (1)</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td>Pygmy gerbil</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>4</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Mammalia, Rodentia (1)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>4</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">General Total</td><td>Mammalia (12)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>46</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><caption>**Table 3** Hosts of *Haemaphysalis (Ornithophysalis) hoodi* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="3">Host</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name<br>Common name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total<br>Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total<br>Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="4">Coraciiforma<br>(=Coraciiforma)</td><td rowspan="2">Bucerotidae (6)</td><td>Tockus erythrorhynchus (6)</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Red-billed hornbill</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Coraciidae (1)</td><td>Coracias cyanogaster (1)</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Blue-bellied roller</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>10</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>18</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Aves, Coraciiforma (7)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>18</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Cuculiforma (15)</td><td rowspan="2">Cuculidae (15)</td><td>Centropus senegalensis (15)</td><td>6</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Senegal coucal</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>6</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>14</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Aves, Cuculiforma (15)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>14</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="6">Galliforma (9)</td><td rowspan="2">Phasianidae (9)</td><td>Francolinus bicalcaratus (7)</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Double spurred francolin</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Gallus gallus domesticus (1)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Domestic chicken</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Numida meleagris galeata (1)</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Helmeted guineafowl</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>9</td><td>5</td><td>14</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Aves, Galliforma (9)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Corvidae (1)</td><td rowspan="2">Ptilostomus afer (1)</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Piapiac</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Passeriforma (10)</td><td rowspan="2">Motacillidae (1)</td><td>Macronyx croceus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Yellow-throated long claw</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Ploceidae (2)</td><td>Bubalornis albirostris (2)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>White-billed buffalo-weaver</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Strunidae (6)</td><td>Lamprotornis caudatus (6)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total per stage</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Aves, Passeriforma (10)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">General Total</td><td>Aves (41)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>59</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Ultimately, Villiers (1955) reported it in Dakar (14°40′N, 17°26′W, Dakar Dpt., Dakar Reg.) from the Golden jackal, *Canis aureus* (1♂, December 13, 1946, Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, IFAN), the Serval, *Felis serval* (8♂♂ 3♀♀, October 1945, IFAN) and, the White-tailed mongoose, *Ichneumia albicauda* (2♂♂ 1♀, June 1947, IFAN). Moreover, the yellow dog-tick has been also collected and identified from an extended variety of hosts in Senegal including: the African hedgehog, *Atelerix albiventris* in Bel-Air, Dakar (2♂♂, March 1948, IFAN), in Thiaroye, Dakar (1♂, February, 1955, IFAN); the Serval, *Felis serval* (2♂♂, June 1946, IFAN) in Bignona (12°47′N, 16°14′W, Bignona Dpt., Casamance Reg); (10♂♂, 3♀♀, May 18, 1956) in Sandiara (14°25′N, 16°48′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); the Domestic cat, *Felis catus* (2♀♀, January 4, 1956) in Hann, Dakar (Morel, 1958; 1961); in Sangalkam (14°47′N, 17°13′W, Dakar Dpt., Dakar Reg.) (2♀♀, January 14, 1956); in Popenguine Forest reserve (14°34′N, 17°05′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg) (1♀, January 2, 1956); the Common genet, *Genetta genetta senegalensis* (2♂♂, April 29, 1955) in Nioro-du-Rip (13°45′N, 15°48′W, Nioro Dpt., Kaolack
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** Collecting sites of *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) houyi* indicated in red; blue dots show localization of all other collection sites.</figcaption></figure>

Reg); Missira (13°31'N, 13°31'N; Tambacounda Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.) (1♂, August 28, 1948, IFAN), Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W, Saint-Louis Dpt., Saint Louis Reg.) (2♂♂ 1♀, September 24, 1948, IFAN); Kidira (14°27'N, 12°13'W; Kidira Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.); the African civet, *Civettictis civetta* (1♂, 1♀, August 30, 1954) in Tambacounda (13°46'N, 13°39'N; Tambacounda Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.); the domestic dog, *Canis familiaris* (1♀, October 1947, Dakar); the African giant rat, *Cricetomys gambianus* (7NN, 3LL in June 19, 1956, Dakar); Morel (1956) collected *H. leachi* in the NKNP from the Side-striped jackal, *Canis adustus* (2♂♂, September 1955; 1♂, December 6, 1955); African civet, *Civettictis civetta* (8♂♂, 5♀♀, September 1955, 3♂♂, February, 1956); African mongoose, *Herpestes ichneumon* (4♂♂, February 1956, 7♂♂, 3♀♀); White-tailed mongoose, *Ichneumia albicauda* (September 12, 1955); Bushbuck *Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus* (1♀, September 1955); Oribi, *Ourebia ourebi* (4♂♂, 1♀, September 1955). Morel (1961) recorded it again in the NKNP (13°2'N, 13°17'N; Tambacounda Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.) from *Panthera pardus* (1♂ 1♀, March 1955); African wild cat, *Felis libyca* (1♀, March 25, 1957); Villiers' genet, *Pseudogenetta*

<table><caption>**Table 4** Hosts of *Haemaphysalis houyi* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="3">Host</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name<br>Common name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total<br>Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total<br>Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">Rodentia (143)</td><td>Sciuridae (143)</td><td>Xerus erythropus (143)<br>African ground squirrel</td><td>195</td><td>535</td><td>730</td><td>1164</td><td>293</td><td>1457</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>195</td><td>535</td><td>730</td><td>1164</td><td>293</td><td>1457</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td>2187</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Mammalia, Rodentia</td><td></td><td></td><td>2187</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Mammalia</td><td></td><td></td><td>2187</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">General Total</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><caption>**Table 5** Avian hosts of *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="3">Host</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name<br>Common name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total<br>Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total<br>Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="3">Cuculiforma (4)</td><td>Cuculidae</td><td>Centropus senegalensis (4)<br>Senegal coucal</td><td>10</td><td>5</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>10</td><td>5</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Aves, Cuculiforma (4)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Passeriforma (1)</td><td>Muscicapidae</td><td>Myrmecocichla aethiops (1)<br>Northern anteater chat</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total</td><td>Aves, Strigiforma (1)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">General Total</td><td>Aves (5)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>16</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

villiersi (1♂, March 25, 1955). It was also collected from a Domestic dog (1♀, June 7, 1959) in Fann, Dakar; Common genet, *Genetta g. senegalensis* (3♂♂, 2♀♀, September 28, 1959) in Thiaroye, Dakar; Mbaouane, Kayar (14°53'N, 17°07'W, Tivaouane Dpt., Thies Reg.); *Civettictis civetta* (3♂♂, March, 16 1963) in Kolda (12°53'N, 14°57'W, Kolda Dpt., Kolda Reg.), Bandafassi (12°32'N, 12°19'W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.) in August 2006, and *Pseudogenetta villiersi* (12♂♂, 8♀♀, January 6, 1964; 2♀♀ January, 10, 1964) (Figure 4). Ultimately, the species was recorded by flagging or hand picking in natura (1♀, June 23, 1962 in Diender near Tanma lake (15♂♂, 8♀♀, June 12, 1962), and also form different unidentified rodents spp. (2NN, March 2, 1962; 4LL, July 25, 1962; 32LL, 2NN, February 25, 1963).

## Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) moreli Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1972

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) moreli* has been only collected from mammals in Senegal (Table 7). Collection reference sites are as follow: Ngohé (14°34'N, 16°3'W; Diourbel Dpt., Diourbel Reg.); Bao Bolon River (13°38'N, 15°45'W, Nioro du Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); Bandia Forest reserve; Saboya Forest reserve; Dialakoto (13°19'N, 13°18'W, Tambacounda Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.); Bandafassi (12°32'N, 12°19'W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.). It was collected from *Civettictis civetta* in August 2006; between Thies and Bambey on the road; in Kedougou (12°33'N, 12°11'W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); Sandiara (14°25'N, 16°48'W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Etiess (12°34'N, 12°26'W, Salemata Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); Dakar-Yoff (14°45'N, 17°28'W, Dakar Dpt., Dakar Reg.) (Figure 4).

## Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) muhsamae Santos Dias, 1954

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) muhsamae* is typically a parasite of carnivores of the Mustelidae and Viverridae families. It was confused for a long time with *H. leachi*, which shares the same hosts and the same geographical distribution. A specimen collected from the zorilla or Striped polecat, *Ictonyx striatus* (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Hann, Dakar is deposited (1♂, August 5, 1939, IFAN) (Figure 4). Although not abundant in the collection, several records from Senegal are attributed to this species. Those are from Diourbel (14°40'N, 16°15'W, Diourbel Dpt., Diourbel Reg.); Mahekor Forest reserve; Bao Bolon (13°38'N, 15°45'W, Nioro du Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); Kassas Forest reserve (14°14'N, 15°35'W, Kaffrine Dpt., Kaffrine Reg.); Saboya Forest reserve (13°39'N, 16°07'W, Nioro-du-Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); Bandia Forest reserve (14°35'N, 17°01'W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Ngoyé = Ngohé (14°34'N, 16°3'W; Diourbel Dpt., Diourbel Reg.); Dialakoto (13°19'N, 13°18'W, Tambacounda Dpt.,
<table><caption>**Table 6** Mammalian hosts of *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Host</th><th colspan="8">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Canis adustus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>126</td><td>87</td><td>213</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Canis aureus (9)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>34</td><td>17</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Canidae (17)</td><td>Canis lupus familiaris (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vulpes pallida (6)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>20</td><td>12</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>180</td><td>117</td><td>297</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>299</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Felis catus (5)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Felis lybica (10)</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>133</td><td>57</td><td>190</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Felidae (21)</td><td>Felis serval (2)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Felis sylvestris (2)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Panthera leo (1)</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Panthera pardus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>13</td><td>146</td><td>61</td><td>207</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>220</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Atilax paludinosus (9)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>96</td><td>33</td><td>129</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Herpestes ichneumon (3)</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>22</td><td>1</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Ichneumia albicauda (25)</td><td>358</td><td>50</td><td>408</td><td>194</td><td>78</td><td>272</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Herpestidae (40)</td><td>Mungos gambianus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mungos mungo (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>2</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mongoose, ind (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>358</td><td>55</td><td>413</td><td>324</td><td>115</td><td>439</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1062</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mustelidae (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Civettictis civetta (9)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>70</td><td>31</td><td>101</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Viverridae (53)</td><td>Genetta g. senegalensis (14)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>63</td><td>33</td><td>96</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Pseudogenetta villiersi (30)</td><td>91</td><td>2</td><td>93</td><td>147</td><td>68</td><td>215</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td>91</td><td>2</td><td>93</td><td>280</td><td>132</td><td>412</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>505</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total</td><td>Mammalia, Carnivora (130)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2085</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Suidae (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Artiodactyla (1)</td><td>Total per stage</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total</td><td>Mammalia, Artiodactyla (1)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Erinaceidae (52)</td><td>284</td><td>177</td><td>461</td><td>467</td><td>180</td><td>647</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Insectivora (52)</td><td>Total per stage</td><td>284</td><td>177</td><td>461</td><td>467</td><td>180</td><td>647</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1108</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total</td><td>Mammalia, Insectivora (53)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1108</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Leporidae (2)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Lagomorpha (2)</td><td>Lepus crawshayi (1)</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total</td><td>Mammalia, Lagomorpha (2)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Arvicanthis niloticus (2)</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mastomys erythroleucus (4)</td><td>13</td><td>9</td><td>22</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mastomys huberti (1)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Muridae (11)</td><td>Rattus rattus (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Tatera guinea (1)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Rodentia (12)</td><td>Rodent's burrow (2)</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td>17</td><td>11</td><td>27</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>32</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Hystricidae (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total per stage</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Total</td><td>Mammalia, Rodentia (12)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>33</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>General Total</td><td>Mammalia (198)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3022</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><caption>**Table 7** Hosts of *Haemaphysalis moreli* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Order</th><th rowspan="2">Family</th><th rowspan="2">Scientific name</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="10">Canidae (1)</td><td rowspan="2">Felidae (1)</td><td><i>Vulpes pallida</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Pale fox</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Felidae (4)</td><td><i>Felis catus</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Domestic cat</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i>Felis libyca</i> (3)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>African wild cat</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Herpestidae (1)</td><td rowspan="2">Carnivora (47)</td><td><i>Atilax paludinosus</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Marsh mongoose</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="10">Viverridae (41)</td><td rowspan="2">Carnivora (47)</td><td><i>Civettictis civetta</i> (5)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>African civet</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>68</td><td>44</td><td>112</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Viverridae (41)</td><td><i>Genetta g. senegalensis</i> (13)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>17</td><td>17</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>Common genet</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>17</td><td>17</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Viverridae (41)</td><td><i>Genetta pardina</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>10</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Forest genet</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>10</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td><i>Genetta tigrina</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>164</td><td>57</td><td>221</td></tr><tr><td>Large-spotted genet</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>164</td><td>57</td><td>221</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>397</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Insectivora (5)</td><td rowspan="2">Mammalia, Carnivora (47)</td><td><i>Atelerix albiventris</i> (5)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>African hedgehog</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Total per stage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>12</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Total</td><td rowspan="2">Mammalia, Insectivora (5)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>General Total</td><td>Mammalia (52)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Tambacounda Reg.); Bambey, CNRA (14°N, 16°W, Thiès Dpt., Thies Reg.); Almadies, Dakar; on the road to Thies-Bambey; on the road Bambey-Fatick-Mbour (14°N, 16°W, Kaolack and Thies Regs.); on the road Bandia-Fatick; Sandiara-Khombole; Dakar; on the road to Fatick-Mbour; Sandiara-Mbour; Mbour; on the road to Bandia-Mbour; Kedougou; Sandiara (14°25'N, 16°48'W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Thies; Louly; Baria Forest reserve (13°37'N, 16°13'W, Nioro du Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); Sidioli (12°43'N, 12°16'W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); on the road to Kedougou-Mako (12°N, 12°W, Kedougou Dpt., Tambacounda Reg.); and Bandafassi (12°32'N, 12°19'W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.).

## Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) spinulosa Neumann, 1906

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) spinulosa* typically from the Oriental subarea, is known in this subarea as *Haemaphysalis ethiopica* Santos Dias, 1958 (Hussein and Mustafa, 1983) (Table 8). Numerous collection references are attributed to *H. spinulosa* in Senegal: Bandia Forest
<table><caption>**Table 8** Hosts of *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) spinulosa* in Senegal. The number of records per species is given in brackets. Total immature = L+N, Total mature = Male+Female.</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="3">Host</th><th colspan="6">Stage collected</th></tr><tr><th>Order</th><th>Family</th><th>Scientific name<br>Common name</th><th>Larva</th><th>Nymph</th><th>Total Immature (Im)</th><th>Male</th><th>Female</th><th>Total Mature (M)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="4">Carnivora (2)</td><td rowspan="2">Herpestidae (1)</td><td><i>Ichneumia albicauda</i> (1)</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>White-tailed mongoose</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Viverridae (1)</td><td><i>Genetta g. senegalensis</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Common genet</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Mammalia, Carnivora (2)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Rodentia (1)</td><td rowspan="2">Cricetomyidae (1)</td><td><i>Cricetomys gambianus</i> (1)</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>African giant pouched rat</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Total (Im+M)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Mammalia, Rodentia (1)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>General Total</td><td colspan="2">Mammalia (3)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

reserve (14°35′N, 17°01′W, Mbour Dpt., Thies Reg.); Saboya Forest reserve; (13°39′N, 16°07′W, Nioro-du-Rip Dpt., Kaolack Reg.); on the road to Sandiara-MBour; Kedougou; Bandafassi (12°32′N, 12°19′W, Kedougou Dpt., Kedougou Reg.); Sidioli (Figure 4).

## Determination key of Western African *Haemaphysalis* spp. (Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Bissau Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast)

### Males

1. Coxa IV with a long internal lanceolate spur, longer than the width of the coxa itself, conscutum with dense to moderate punctuations, parasite of ruminants ... *H. rugosa*
— Coxa IV with an internal spur shorter than the width of the coxa itself, or absent ... 2

2. Palpal segment III with a strong retrograde dorsal spur, prominent; lateral grooves very short, almost reaching half of the conscutum; parasite of antelopes ... *H. parmata*
— Palpal segment III without retrograde dorsal spur ... 3

3. Basidorsal margin of palpi in a straight line, forming a right angle with the inner axis of the palps. Basis capituli rectangular. Scutum proximately large with marked punctuations; parasite of birds ... *H. hoodi*
— Basidorsal margin of palps drawing a retrograde spur more or less developed, or forming an angle. Parasite of mammals ... 4

4. Coxal spurs moderately long, prominent, each one reaching almost the next coxa. Trochanter I with a strong ventral spur, other trochanters with moderately short spurs, not strong nor pointed. Tarsi short and strong, bluntly pointed. Scutum broadly elongate with few scattered, shallow punctuations. Lateral grooves long reaching the level of intercoxal space II + III, Parasite of *Xerus erythropus*. ... *H. houyi*
— Trochanter I without ventral spur. Coxeae with a short pointed spur on at least two pairs. Palpal profile laterally straight or very slightly concave; palpal segment 3 ventrally bearing a fine retrograde spur, pointed, relatively long. Common on carnivores, rare on other animals ... 5
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4** Collecting sites of *Haemaphysalis* of the *leachi* group indicated in red; blue dots show localization of all other collection sites: A – *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) leachi; B – *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) moreli; C – *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) muhsamae; D – *Haemaphysalis* (Rhipistoma) spinulosa.</figcaption></figure>

5. Conscutum broadly rounded posteriorly showing dense, deep separated punctuations, of moderate size, basis capituli external margin diverging, ventral spur of palpal segment 3 straight, more acutely pointed. *H. punctaleachi* — Conscutum shagreened, showing numerous dense, deep contiguous punctuations, of small to moderate size 6

6. Moderate-sized punctuations, lateral grooves enclosing only the first festoon, cornua triangular, palpal segment 2 interno-dorsal margin strongly bulging. *H. moreli* — Punctuations clearly separated, moderate to high in number, tiny to moderate in size. Hyposomal formula varying from 4/4 to 6/6 7

7. Hypostomal formula 5/5 or 6/6. Large species measuring 3.5-4.0 mm in length over 1.7-1.9 mm in width. Nine to eleven festoons. Lateral groove enclosing one festoon or sometimes partially two. *H. paraleachi* — Hypostomal formula 4/4, smaller tick species, 1.3-3.8 over 0. 8-1.9 mm. Eleven festoons, lateral groove enclosing only one festoon 8

8. Small ticks, 1.3-2.2 mm length over 0.8-1.2 mm in width. Eleven festoons. Large scutum: 1.6 times longer than width. Coxal spurs small; tarsi II and IV short, robust, bumped and
6. Conspicuous spurs on all coxae. Long and pointed cornua .................... *H. leachi*
— Small coxal spurs. Short and rounded cornua....................................7

7. Hypostomal formula 5/5 or 5.5/5.5. Large elongate *Haemaphysaline* (3.59-3.93 mm long and 1.77-1.88 mm wide for unengorged specimens). External margins of basis capituli diverging slightly anteriorly. Tarsi II to IV bluntly pointed .................................... *H. paraleachi*
— Hypostomal formula 4/4. Moderate size *Haemaphysalis*, from 2.1-3.0 mm long and 1.0-1.6 mm wide. Basis capituli diverging anteriorly. Tarsi II to IV curving proximally ............ 8

8. Basis capituli approximately 2.8 times longer than wide. Spurs on coxae II and III reduced to small protrusions. Basiventral margin of palpal segment 2 with a small, narrow indentation, nearly at mid-width of the posterodorsal segment .................................... *H. moreli*
— Basis capituli approximately 2.1 times wider than long. Conspicuous spurs on coxae II and III. Basiventral margin of palpal segment 2 with a large emargination, approximately near the mi-width of the segment, showing a sinuous aspect.................................... *H. punctaleachi*

Discussion

*Haemaphysalis rugosa* infests antelopes and buffalo as principal hosts for adults, but the species can also be found on carnivores and livestock. In Senegal, immature stages were collected on Carnivores of the Herpestidae and Viverridae families, adult stages were recorded from wild Bovidae including bushbuck, reedbuck and oribi (Table 2). Immature ticks are known to feed on civets, genets, rodents, and hares (Camicas, 1978; Hoogstraal and Kim, 1985; Yeoman and Walker, 1967, Hoogstraal and El Kammah, 1972). It is a typical species of wet savannas. *H. rugosa* has been recorded from Senegal in the south and the West Coast of Dakar. It is known in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Uganda, Sudan, Central African Republic (north-eastern), and Democratic Republic of Congo (north-eastern).

*Haemaphysalis hoodi* preferentially parasitizes ground feeding birds at all stages. All stages were collected from different bird orders including: Cuculiforma, Galliforma and Passeriforma, in the sudanian and sudano-guinean domains of Senegal (Table 3). Hoogstraal (1958) also recorded it from domestic chicken, *Gallus domesticus*. *Haemaphysalis hoodi* is known from sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco (Walker, 1991).

*Haemaphysalis houyi* is characterized by strict host-parasite specificity, only known to infest the African Ground Squirrel, *X. erythropus*. It is recorded in all geographic domains of Senegal, due to the wide distribution of its hosts. This species is also reported to occur in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya (Hoogstraal and Kim, 1985; Ntiamoa-Baidu *et al.*, 2004).

*Haemaphysalis spinulosa* adults appear to feed on various small and medium-sized carnivores, as well as hedgehogs. In Senegal, immature stages are found on Carnivora of the families Herpestidae and Viverridae; they can also feed on small mammals as rodents (Table 7). This species has been recorded in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen (Hussein and Mustafa, 1983; 1985; Hoogstraal and Kim, 1985; Walker, 1991).

*Haemaphysalis parmata* was not recorded in Senegal, but is known from Ivory Coast, in the same biogeographic Occidental subarea, and is considered in the proposed key.

*Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi* group (subgroup *leachi*) includes five species of which three are described from the Occidental subarea of the Afrotropical region: 1) *H. (Rh.) leachi* (Audouin, 1826) was originally described in Egypt from grass-rats, *Arvicanthis niloticus* (Desmarest, 1822), and the Long-eared hedgehog, *Hemiechinus auritus aegyptius* E. Geoffroy, 1803 and their resting habitats (Hoogstraal, 1958). Adults can also feed on jungle cat, *Felis chaus nilotica* de Winton, 1898; the common fox, *Vulpes vulpes aegyptica* (Sonnini, 1816) and the wolf jackal, *Canis aureus lupaster* Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1833; 2) *H. (Rh.) moreli*
Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1972 was described from genets, civets and also recorded on Felid carnivores, including lions, leopards, servals, hyaena, jackals, foxes, domestic cats and dogs of Western and Eastern Africa; 3) *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) paraleachi* Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1983 parasitizing small and medium-sized carnivores as civets in Central Africa; *Haemaphysalis. (Rhipistoma) punctaleachi* Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah, 1973 is also found on civets, leopard, jackal and antelope of West African Guinean forests, and *H. (Rhipistoma) elliptica* (Koch, 1844) being known only from Austral and Oriental Africa. For comparative purposes, *H. punctaleachi* is included in the key.

The *Haemaphysalis* (*Rh.*) *spinulosa* subgroup incorporated four species, namely *H. (Rh.*) muhsamae* Santos Dias, 1954, *H. (Rh.*) spinulosa* Neumann, 1906; *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) norvali* Hoogstraal & Wassef, 1983 and *Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) subterra* Hoogstraal, El Kammah & Camicas, 1992 also from Austral and Oriental Africa.

The taxonomic status of *H. (Rh.*) elliptica* and *H. (Rh.*) leachi* was updated by Apanaskevich *et al.* (2007); they also gave some collection references of *H. (Rh.*) leachi* from the same carnivore hosts as in our study in Senegal [Leptailurus serval = Felis (Leptailurus) serval, Felis silvestris lybica and Civettictis civetta], but a taxonomic revision of the whole *H. (Rh.*) leachi* group, including host associations and distribution ranges, is still needed. In West Africa, *H. (Rh.*) leachi* infests a wide range of carnivore hosts including the domestic dog, domestic cat, lion, *Panthera leo* Linnaeus, 1758; and leopard, *Panthera pardus* Linnaeus, 1758 as adults, and immature stages are found on a variety of rodent species. Adults of both species have been recorded in several collections obtained from a single host.

Although the haemaphysalid tick species of Senegal described here are not known to carry or vector pathogens of medical importance, detailed studies are currently lacking. Several other species from the Amblyommid family (i.e. *Amblyomma*, *Rhipicephalus* and *Hyalomma spp.*) have been found infected with a variety of viruses in Senegal including: Bandia, Bhanja, Coxsackie B4, CCHF, Dugbe, Jos, Koutango, NDelle, Ndumu, Somone, Wad Medani or Ngoye (Anonyme, 1998; Grard *et al.*, 2006). Moreover, other *Haemaphysalis* spp. are known worldwide as pathogen carriers: protozoan parasites stricto sensu [e.g.: *Babesia gibsoni*, *B. bigemina*, *B. ovata*, *Toxoplasma gondi*, *Hepatozoon canis* (Dubey and Beattie, 1988; Zhou *et al.*, 2016); *Theileria orientalis*, *T. recondita*, *T. mutans* (Fujisaki *et al.*, 1994, Alani and Herbert, 1998; Gao *et al.*, 2008); bacteria as *Rickettsia heilongjiangensis*, *R. japonica*, *R. siberica*, *Coxiella burnetii* (Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004, Liu *et al.*, 2014); *Anaplasma phagocytophilum*, *Borrelia burgdorferi*, *Francisella tularensis* ssp., *Mycobacterium*, *Sphingomonas* spp., *Pseudomonas* spp., *Wolbachia* spp., *Brucella melitensis* (Nosek, 1971b; Raoult and Roux, 1997; Gyuranecz *et al.*, 2011)]. A wide range of viruses (e.g.: Bhanja, Barur, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ganjam, Kaisodi, Kyasanur Forest Disease, New Minto, Powassan encephalitis, Louping-ill, Russian spring-summer encephalitis, Burana, Sawgrass, Silverwater or Tribec) are also carried by *Haemaphysalis* ticks (Work *et al.*, 1957; Work and Trapido, 1957; Rapido *et al.*, 1959; Anonyme, 1964; Bhatt *et al.*, 1966; Dandawate and Shah., 1969; Dandawate *et al.*, 1969; Boshell *et al.*, 1970; Rajagopalan *et al.*, 1970; Nosek *et al.*, 1971a and b; Vesenjak-Hirjan *et al.*, 1977; Pavlov *et al.*, 1978; Pattnaik, 2006; Yadaw *et al.*, 2011; Holbrook, 2012; Lasecka and Baron, 2013; Lvov *et al.*, 2014; Mourya *et al.*, 2014; Walker *et al.*, 2015; Yang *et al.*, 2016). Again, other newly identified emerging viruses have been isolated from *Haemaphysalids* including: the Tick-borne zoonosis with severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (Liu *et al.*, 2014; Fujisaki *et al.*, 1994; Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004); the Huaiyangshan virus (Yu *et al.*, 2011; Zhang *et al.*, 2011; Zhang *et al.*, 2012; Kuhn *et al.*, 2016), the Khasan virus from Maritime Territory China, as well as the Kwatta virus (Rhabdoviridae) and the Burana virus (Khoo *et al.*, 2016).

Ultimately, the haemaphysalid tick fauna of Senegal requires more in depth investigations to complete our knowledge, including biological, morphological and taxonomic studies and an evaluation of the transmission risk of pathogens. We postulate, for example, that the entomological surveillance conducted on hemaphysalid ticks in Senegal is too limited to declare these species of no risk and thus merit further investigation. Indeed *H. leachi*, the
yellow or African dog tick, is found in tropical and southern Africa and can transmit canine and feline babesiosis, Mediterranean spotted fever, Q-fever, and Boutonneuse fever (Sonenshine, 1992b; Khoo et al., 2016). With respect to climate change, migration and commercial trade, understanding the health risks associated with tick-borne pathogens appears of public health importance in the geographic domains where haemaphysalid tick circulate. Indeed, their relative abundance, their seasonality, their geographical extension need to be assessed; the involvement of the *Haemaphysalis* genus in pathogen transmission may be underestimated.

## Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for invaluable corrections. This work is dedicated to the late Dr. Jean-Louis Camicas who reviewed the earlier version of the manuscript.

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