Introduction

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods found in virtually all terrestrial regions of the planet. Globally, approximately 900 species of ticks are recognized of which about 700 species are ixodid or hard ticks and 200 species are soft ticks. Approximately 200 ixodid and 40 argasid species are present in the Afrotropical region but only a small number are of veterinary and medical importance. Many of the ticks and tick-borne diseases occur usually in specific geographical areas but with globalisation and climate change their range may expand and even spread intercontinentally.

Refer to the Tick Photodatabase of African ticks.

Ticks fact sheet (WORD) | Ticks fact sheet (PDF)