An ecological and epidemiological single‐season survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia positive ticks in Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe

There is an urgent need for continued research on the ecology of tick‐borne diseases in Africa. Our objective was to provide a preliminary description of the ecology and epidemiology of tick species, tick‐borne pathogens, and animal hosts in Zimbabwe, focusing efforts at Victoria Falls National Park, for a single season. We tested the hypothesis that tick surveillance and pathogen screening data can be used to model associations among ticks, hosts, and pathogens. We collected ticks from domesticated animals and wildlife in Zimbabwe and screened the ticks for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria. Nearly 30% of the screened ticks were PCR‐positive; 89% of tick species were PCR‐positive, and 88% of animal species carried at least one PCR‐positive tick. We sequenced a subset of amplicons that were similar to three Anaplasma species and three Ehrlichia species. The odds of a tick being PCR‐positive increased when many ticks were collected from the host or the tick was collected from a cow (domesticated animal). Tick species shared host species more often than expected. We demonstrate that ticks in northwestern Zimbabwe present a One Health problem for nearby wildlife and humans. Nearly 30% of ticks collected from domesticated animals and wildlife in Zimbabwe were PCR positive for Anaplasma or Ehrlichia species and sequencing confirmed three Anaplasma species and three Ehrlichia species. Most tick species were primarily found infesting a small subset of host species, suggesting a high degree of tick‐host specificity. The odds of a positive tick increased when the tick was collected from a domesticated animal indicating tick control where cattle, donkeys, and canines are present is recommended.