Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seasonal tick patterns on confined dogs in Italy
By Lorusso, V et al.·Published in Medical and veterinary entomology·2010·Dipartimento di Sanità, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seasonal dynamics of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, on a confined dog population in Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of young mixed-breed dogs and beagles in a shelter in Italy were monitored for ticks over a year. The study found that the brown dog tick, which can carry diseases, was present on the dogs throughout the year, but the number of immature ticks peaked in September. Adult ticks were most commonly found on the dogs' ears, between their toes, and in their armpits. This information is important for pet owners to consider when planning tick prevention treatments, as these ticks can be a year-round concern.
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Abstract
This study evaluated the seasonal dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (Acari: Ixodidae) on naturally infested dogs in a private shelter in southern Italy. From March to May 2008, 39 autochthonous mixed-breed young dogs and 10 beagles were enrolled in the study. From March 2008 until March 2009, every 21 +/- 2 days, 11 body sites of each dog were checked for ticks. At each follow-up, the number of ticks, their developmental stage, sex and location on the dog's body were recorded. Adult ticks were found throughout the year, but immatures were absent in January and February. The adult tick population increased from July to August, whereas the load of immatures increased in early July and peaked in September, which suggests that R. sanguineus develops one generation per year in this area. The mean number of immature ticks per infested dog was higher than that of adults from March to October 2008. Ears, interdigital areas and armpits were the most frequent attachment sites of adult ticks. At the last follow-up, a total of 2266 ticks were collected and identified as R. sanguineus. The results suggest that R. sanguineus develops one generation per year in the study area, but that it infests dogs in all seasons. This information should be taken into account when planning control programmes against this tick species and the pathogens it transmits.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20557458/