{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T09:04:50Z","timestamp":1789376690926,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778025600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Microorganisms"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Generally, ixodid ticks are important ectoparasites of cattle, including those in smallholder production systems in the Eastern Cape Province, where varying environmental conditions influence their distribution and feeding behaviour. This study investigated ecological variation in tick species composition and attachment site preferences in Bos taurus cattle across coastal and inland areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Ticks were collected from cattle of different ages, sexes, breeds, and body condition scores. Sampling was conducted prior to acaricide treatment, and ticks were manually removed from standard predilection sites on each animal. Specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and later identified morphologically at the D\u00f6hne Agricultural Development Institute Laboratory. Data were analysed using generalized linear mixed models with a negative binomial distribution to assess the effects of host and environmental factors on tick burden. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise species composition, while inferential statistics were applied to evaluate differences in infestation levels across host-related and spatial variables. A total of 3250 adult ixodid ticks were collected from cattle. The most prevalent species was Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (39.7%), followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (21.0%), Amblyomma hebraeum (17.7%), Hyalomma rufipes (5.8%), Ixodes pilosus (5.8%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (4.5%), R. appendiculatus (3.0%), and R. simus (2.5%). Tick burdens were significantly higher in the coastal zone (85 \u00b1 7.5) than in semi-arid inland areas (62 \u00b1 5.9). Attachment site analysis showed significantly higher infestation levels (p &lt; 0.05) on the udder\/scrotum compared to other body regions. This study provides baseline information on tick species composition and attachment site ecology in cattle, contributing to improved understanding of host\u2013parasite interactions and supporting the development of targeted, region-specific tick control strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms14051046","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T08:01:39Z","timestamp":1778140899000},"page":"1046","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ecological Variation in Species Composition and Attachment Preferences of Ixodid Ticks Infesting Bos taurus in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Zuko","family":"Mpisana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nkululeko","family":"Nyangiwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, Florida Science Campus, University of South Africa, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural Sciences and Game Management, Nelson Mandela University, South Campus, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mandla","family":"Yawa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00f6hne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X15, Stutterheim 4930, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1276-7789","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mhlangabezi","family":"Slayi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Global Change (CGC), University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1313, Alice 5700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9310-6511","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ishmael","family":"Jaja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa"},{"name":"Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, Florida Science Campus, University of South Africa, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"580","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2018.01.012","article-title":"Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale amongst transhumant cattle in north-eastern Uganda","volume":"9","author":"Byaruhanga","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ticks Tick-Borne Dis."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chvost\u00e1\u010d, M., \u0160pitalsk\u00e1, E., V\u00e1clav, R., Vaculov\u00e1, T., Minichov\u00e1, L., and Derd\u00e1kov\u00e1, M. 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