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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Ticks found on domestic dogs in a Brazilian environmental protection

By Santos, Hélio Freitas et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2024·Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Brazil·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne agents associated with domestic dogs in an environmental protection area in Brazil, with molecular evidence of Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826).

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A study found that 60 out of 177 dogs living near a protected forest area in Brazil had ticks. The ticks included several species, with Amblyomma aureolatum being the most common among semi-domiciled and wandering dogs. Some of these ticks were tested and found to carry Rickettsia bellii, a type of bacteria that can cause illness. Pet owners should be aware of the risk of tick infestations, especially in areas near wildlife, and consider regular tick prevention treatments for their dogs to keep them healthy.

People also search for: dog ticks treatment · how to prevent ticks on dogs · symptoms of tick-borne illness in dogs

Abstract

Wild animals and domestic dogs living in human dwellings near forested areas can share ectoparasites, including ticks. In this study, we surveyed ticks associated with dogs which tutors living in the Palmares Environmental Protection Area (EPA Palmares). Dogs were classified into three categories, domiciled, semi-domiciled and wandering dogs according to dog care/ type of dwelling. Ticks were collected monthly from January to December, 2020. Overall, 60 (33.9%) out of 177 examined dogs were infested by ticks. Six species of ticks were identified: Rhipicephalus linnaei, Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma dubitatum and Rhipicephalus microplus. The overall prevalence and presence in semi-domicilied+wandering dogs was higher for A. aureolatum than for R. linnaei by the Chi-square statistic tests. A random sample of 50 ticks, collected from 22 different dogs, were processed through molecular analyses. Ticks were submitted to DNA extraction and also by PCR, using specific primers in order to pathogens monitoring. Four males of A. aureolatum yielded DNA sequences (350 bp) that were 100% identical to the type strain of Rickettsia bellii in GenBank (CP000087).

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39383386/