Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is a hard tick found in the ears of cattle, other livestock, buffalo and antelope. This tick is considered to be a major pest in areas where it is endemic. Heavy infestations can cause anemia, severe damage to the ears, or a toxicosis that results in the loss of resistance to some tick-borne infections. More than a thousand ticks have been found on some animals. R. appendiculatus can transmit a number of pathogens including Theileria parva (East Coast fever), Nairobi sheep disease virus and Thogoto virus. A closely related species, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis, which has similar feeding patterns and hosts, occurs in warmer, drier areas of Africa