Diversity and distribution of ticks collected from vegetation and domestic animals in Zambia

Ticks are major vectors of pathogens affecting livestock and human health in sub-Saharan Africa, yet integrated data on tick diversity across ecological gradients remain limited. In Zambia, most studies have focused on livestock-associated ticks, with little emphasis on comparisons between vegetation and host-derived communities across land-use types. Ticks were collected between February and March 2025 from vegetation and domestic animals at 25 sites in three regions of Zambia (Lusaka, Eastern, and Southern Provinces), representing wildlife and agricultural systems. Specimens were identified morphologically, with molecular confirmation performed on a subset of ticks using the 16S rRNA and cox1 markers. Tick diversity, distribution, and density were analyzed in relation to region, habitat type, and sampling source. A total of 2,270 ticks representing 12 species were collected. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was the dominant species (56.2%) and occurred in all regions, reaching the highest densities in wildlife-associated habitats (up to 41.4 ticks/100 m 2 ). Three additional species— A. variegatum, R. microplus, and R. sculptus —each accounted for 10–18% of the total collection. Under the present sampling effort, observed species richness was highest in Eastern Province (10 species), followed by Lusaka Province (5 species), while only R. appendiculatus was detected in Southern Province. Eleven species were recorded in agricultural areas and four in wildlife-associated habitats; these differences are presented as observed species richness and should be interpreted in the context of the sampling design. Six species were collected from both vegetation and animals, four exclusively from vegetation, and two exclusively from hosts. Vegetation-derived collections were dominated by R. appendiculatus and R. sculptus (97.5%), whereas host-derived collections were dominated by A. variegatum, R. microplus, and R. linnaei (86.1%). Tick relative abundance was significantly associated with region and habitat type ( P < 0.001). Tick assemblages in Zambia differed among regions, land-use types, and host associations. The dominance of R. appendiculatus in vegetation-derived collections from wildlife habitats and the substantial representation of R. microplus and A. variegatum in agricultural systems, together with differences from historical records, highlight the need for longitudinal surveillance to assess potential changes in tick communities and their implications for tick-borne disease risk.