ECTOPARASITES AND ENDOPARASITES OF INTRODUCED GEMSBOK IN THE ORANGE-FREE-STATE

The gemsbok, Oryx gazella, is an introduced species in the Orange Free State. Two antelope were shot each month in the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve from February 1987 to January 1988 in order to determine their parasitic burdens. Although none of the gemsbok harboured large burdens, nine ixodid tick species, two louse species, 17 nematode species and a cestode species were recovered. Margaropus winthemi, which was mainly present from July to September, was the most abundant tick, followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, which showed no clear pattern of seasonal abundance. Young antelope harboured significantly greater numbers of the sucking louse Linognathus oryx than did older animals. Trichostrongylus falculatus was the most numerous nematode, followed by Cooperia fuelleborni. No pattern of seasonal abundance was evident for any of the helminths.