A One-Month Survey on Infestation of Ixodidae (Acari: Ixodida) Ticks Collected from Dogs in the Robat Karim Region, Tehran Province, Iran.

The experiment was conducted in and around Guwahati, Assam, India for a period of one calendar year from March, 2021 to February, 2022 to determine the prevalence and molecular identification of tick infestation in dogs in and around Guwahati, Assam, India. A total of 582 dogs of different breeds, age groups (below 1 year and above 1 year age group), sex and different categories (stray dogs, pet dogs and working dogs) were examined. Study revealed that overall prevalence of tick was found to be 58.76%. Breed-wise, highest prevalence of tick infestation was observed in mongrels (75%) followed by Germam shepherd (66.66%). Sex-wise, tick infestation was more in male dogs (70.10%) than females (47.42%). According to the age, tick infestation was found more in dogs of below 1 year of age (89.38%) than in dogs of above 1 year of age (39.32%). Category wise, stray dogs (92.77%) showed higher prevalence of tick infestation than working (64.36%) and pet dogs (40.12%). Ticks were observed throughout the year of which highest prevalence was recorded in monsoon season (70.79%) followed by post monsoon (62.22%), pre monsoon (57.35%) and winter (36.92%). Morphological as well as molecular identification based on amplification and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the isolated ticks belonged to Rhipicephalus sanguineus (ON428306.1, ON428307.1 and ON428308.1). Phylogenetic analysis based on a portion of 16S rRNA gene showed divergence at nucleotide level among the tick isolates.

Aim: To study the prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar. Materials and Methods: A total of 610 dogs (360 stray dogs & 250 pet dogs) in and around Bhubaneswar belonging to either sex were examined for tick infestation during a period of one year (Aug 2011- July 2012). Standard parasitological procedures were followed for collection, processing and identification of ticks. Result: 283 dogs (46.39%) were found positive for tick infestation with three different ixodid tick spp., viz. Rhipicephalus spp (39.51%), Boophilus spp.(4.92%) and Haemaphysalis spp. (1.97%) with many dogs having mixed infestations. Higher rate of incidence was recorded among stray dogs (58.33%) as compared to pet dogs (29.20%). Prevalence among dogs less than 1 year of age was higher (53.41%) than dogs above one year (45.21%). The overall percentage of incidence was higher (53.97%) among males than females (38.31%) in both stray and pet dogs. Influence of age and the variation due to sex on prevalence of tick infestations was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Highest percentage of prevalence (48.86%) was recorded during rainy season followed by summer season (40.39%) and lowest (32.24%) in winter. Influence of season on the prevalence of tick infestation was highly significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study revealed the occurrence of three types of ixodid ticks in dogs with a prevalence of mixed infestation. Influence of age, sex and season on the prevalence of tick infestation was found to be significant.

Dog owners are greatly concerned about tick infestations in their pets. The prevalence and dispersion of ticks and their disease-causing microorganisms have been limited from the viewpoint of dog owners in Vietnam. This study investigated the presence of tick infestation and the pathogens associated with it in canines that were brought to veterinary hospitals in Vietnam. In the survey, 1,423 dogs participated from February to October 2022. Molecular and morphological methods were utilized to identify ticks and the associated pathogens. In addition,risk variables linked to tick infestation were documented and analyzed using statistical methods. The total exposure to the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) was 29.01%. Nam Dinh has the highest tick prevalence among the research areas. Tick infestation reached its highest point between June and September in the northern region of the country, with distinct seasons showing a strong correlation with tick infestation in dogs. Out of 177 tick pools examined, 146(82.49%) tested positive for at least one infection. Mycoplasma spp. (78.53%) was the most common, followed by Anaplasma spp. (37.29%), Rickettsia felis (5.08%), Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis (2.82%). In the current study, there was a statistically significant link between tick infestation and characteristics such as age, breed, body size, lifestyle, and bathing frequency. Understanding the seasonal behavior of vector ticks is crucial for identifying individuals or animals susceptible to tick-borne diseases. Studying the distribution of ticks and their ability to carry and disseminate zoonotic germs in specific places could assist veterinarians and policymakers in implementing effective strategies to manage zoonotic infections.

To understand the epidemiology of tick infestation and tick-borne diseases in pet dogs in south-eastern China and to develop a reference for their prevention and treatment, we collected 1550 ticks parasitizing 562 dogs in 122 veterinary clinics from 20 cities of south-eastern China. Dogs were tested for common tick-borne pathogens; collected ticks were identified and processed for the detection of tick-borne pathogens. The use of an in vitro ELISA diagnostic kit for antibody detection (SNAP®4Dx® Plus) on dog sera found the infection rates with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma spp. to be 0.4%, 1.3% and 2.7%, respectively. By using a specific ELISA method, the infection rate with Babesia gibsoni was 3.9%. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides were the major tick species identified on pet dogs. PCR tests were conducted to detect five tick-borne pathogens in 617 ticks. The infection rate was 10.2% for E. canis, 3.4% for Anaplasma platys, 2.3% for B. gibsoni, 0.3% for B. burgdorferi s.l. and 0% for Babesia canis. Some ticks were co-infected with two (1.46%) or three pathogens (0.16%). These results indicate the infestation of pet dogs by ticks infected with tick-borne pathogens in south-eastern China, and the need for effective treatment and routine prevention of tick infestations in dogs.

This epidemiological study aimed to determine the species of tick infestation in dogs, their prevalence and dynamic in the Bejaia province, northeastern Algeria. A total of 631 dogs were examined from different localities of the Bejaia province between March 2016 and February 2017. Of the 631 examined dogs, 15% were infested with one or more tick species. A total of 339 adult ticks were collected and identified, including 199 male tick species and 140 female tick species. Our results revealed that most of these were Rhipicephalus species, with Rhipicephalus sanguineus (51.32%) being the most prevalent followed by Rhipicephalus bursa (35.1%) and Rhipicephalus turanicus (12.98%). Ixodes ricinus represented only 0.6% of all ticks collected. The highest infested seasons were spring (22.55%) and summer (22.54%) and the lowest infested seasons were autumn (8.62%) and winter ( 0.9%). There is no significant difference between the sex of the animal and the prevalence of infestation (p = 0.837). Also, the prevalence of infestation by ticks in young animals was higher than that in adult animals (p = 0.550). A significant difference between the prevalence of infestation and animal breed was observed (p = 0.042). This study is the first epidemiological investigation conducted on the prevalence of hard ticks infesting domestic dogs in Bejaia (northeastern Algeria) based on conventional methods. It is therefore necessary to implement an effective tick control strategy during infestation periods in order to prevent vector-borne diseases.

Due to its ability to spread disease from one host to another, tick infestation is the most frequent issue pet owners’ deal with and should be taken seriously. The goal of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in Agartala as well as its molecular identity and characterisation. A total of 1776 dogs of various breeds, ages, sexes, and categories were included in the study, which was conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 over the course of a calendar year. The total prevalence of ticks was reported to be 62.12%. According to study on breed, sex, age, and category, German spitz, male dogs, dogs under 1 year of age and stray dogs had the highest frequency of tick infestation. All throughout the year, tick infestations were seen, with the monsoon season seeing the highest frequency. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequence analysis, molecular identification revealed that all isolated ticks were members of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species. Using a subset of the 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. sanguineus (OR244468.1) from Agartala (TrRS-PB) was part of the same clade as isolates from Kerala and Assam.

Projected current and future climate suitability under RCP 2.6, 6.0 & 8.5. Figures S3-S8 & Table S2. Figure S3. Current and future (RCP 2.6) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: A: Ixodes ricinus; B: Rhipicephalus annulatus; C: Dermacentor marginatus; D: Haemaphysalis punctata. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 2.6. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Figure S4. Current and future (RCP 2.6) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: E: Haemaphysalis sulcata; F: Hyalomma marginatum; G: Rhipicephalus bursa. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 2.6. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Figure S5. Current and future (RCP 6.0) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: A: Ixodes ricinus; B: Rhipicephalus annulatus; C: Dermacentor marginatus; D: Haemaphysalis punctata. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 6.0. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Figure S6. Current and future (RCP 6.0) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: E: Haemaphysalis sulcata; F: Hyalomma marginatum; G: Rhipicephalus bursa. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 6.0. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Figure S7. Current and future (RCP 8.5) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: A: Ixodes ricinus; B: Rhipicephalus annulatus; C: Dermacentor marginatus; D: Haemaphysalis punctata. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 8.5. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Figure S8. Current and future (RCP 8.5) projected climate suitability for tick species in the western Palearctic. Each row corresponds to a tick species: E: Haemaphysalis sulcata; F: Hyalomma marginatum; G: Rhipicephalus bursa. Columns correspond to 40-year temporal averages up to and including: 1: 2010; 2: 2050; 3: 2098. Figures in column 1 represent the average suitability derived from Maxent and MD SDMs based on observed climate; columns 2 and 3 contain suitability averaged across Maxent and MD SDMs produced from four GCMs following RCP 8.5. Values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 1 (highly suitable). Table S2: Similarity between current and future projected climate suitability for seven tick species. Schoener's D statistic represents the degree of overlap between climate suitability maps, ranging from 0 (no overlap) to 1 (complete overlap). Smallest values therefore indicate least overlap and so the greatest change between current and future projections of climate suitability. Average climate suitability produced by Maxent and MD SDMs for the 40-year period up to and including 2010 has been compared with climate suitability averaged across both SDMs over future 40-year periods up to and including 2050 and 2098 under all four RCP climates. This analysis was undertaken using ENMTools software v1.3. (PDF 1968 kb)

Tick infestation is a common ectoparasitic problem in dogs and is associated with dermatological lesions and transmission of tick-borne diseases. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tick infestation in dogs and to identify tick species based on morphological characteristics. The study was carried out at the Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), during July to December 2025. A total of 2,548 dogs of different age groups, sex and breeds were screened irrespective of clinical complaint. Out of these, 208 dogs were confirmed positive for tick infestation, recording an overall prevalence of 8.16%. Month-wise prevalence was highest during the monsoon months, with maximum infestation recorded in July (10.52%), followed by August (9.95%) and September (8.87%), and lowest in December (2.22%), indicating a significant seasonal influence. Age-wise distribution revealed higher infestation in dogs aged 1–3 years (33.65%), followed by 3–6 years (26.44%). Male dogs (55.76%) showed higher infestation compared to females (44.23%). Breed-wise prevalence was highest in non-descript dogs (37.01%), followed by Labrador Retrievers (29.81%). Outdoor housing was identified as a major predisposing factor. Morphological examination of all collected tick specimens confirmed Rhipicephalus sanguineus as the sole tick species infesting dogs in the study area. The findings highlight the dominance of R. sanguineus and emphasize the usefulness of morphological identification in epidemiological studies of canine tick infestation.

The importance of ticks in the context of One Health is well known, as they represent a significant vector for a variety of pathogens for both animals and humans. Climate change has influenced in a significant way the distribution of different species of ticks throughout the world, especially through the increasing temperature. The aim of this study was to determine a preliminary situation of tick distribution in dogs from Tulcea county, between May 2023 and June 2024. Feeding ticks were collected from dogs, during peak season of tick activity (May-July; September-November), summing up a total of 860 ticks of all biological stages (larva, nymph, male, female). Morphological identification was subsequently performed under a stereomicroscope and resulted in the differentiation of 3 species: Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex- the predominant species, 94.07%, (n=809 individuals), Ixodes ricinus, 4.42%, (n=38 individuals), Dermacentor marginatus, 1.51%. (n=13 individuals). These findings emphasize the presence of various species of ticks, with a high potential of transmission of different pathogens, which pose a real threat to both human and animal health. The present study is a preliminary one, as further investigations will be carried out on the identified ticks in order to assess their pathogen load.

Objective: In the previous studies, the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral efficacy of the tick egg wax-coating of certain tick species wereexamined and some significant results were obtained. However, related researches and studied tick species are limited. There are hundredsof tick species, and it is well known that the antimicrobial efficacy of the wax is closely related to the species. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the in-vitro anticandidial efficacy of the egg waxes belonging to three tick species, which have not been studied before and havequite different biological and ecological differences.Methods: In the study, the egg waxes of the tick species, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Dermacentor marginatus, wereused on Candida albicans ATCC10231, Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019, and Candida tropicalis ATCC 750. Antimycotic susceptibility test wascarried out in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations using the M27-A3 microdilution method.Results: It was determined that the wax of Rhipicephalus bursa has inhibitory effect on Candida tropicalis ATCC 750 in a particular concentration,and no significant effects were observed in other trials.Conclusion: Anticandidial effect obtained from the egg wax of R. bursa can be associated with some distinctive biological characteristics, and itwas concluded that the detailed studies with different tick species might yield significant results for the discovery of new generation antifungals.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are considered a major challenge for human and animal health in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate regions of the world. However, only scarce information is available on the characterization of tick species infesting dogs in Pakistan. In this study, we present a comprehensive report on the epidemiological and phylogenetic aspects of ticks infesting dogs in Pakistan using the mitochondrial markers i.e. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) nucleotide sequences. A total of 300 dogs were examined and 1150 ixodid ticks were collected across central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The morpho-molecular characterization of hard ticks revealed the presence of two ixodid tick genera on dogs, i.e., Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus, including six tick species viz. Hyalomma dromedarii (15.9%), Hyalomma excavatum (3%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (41.3%), Rhipicephalus turanicus s.s. (28.7%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (10.2%), and Rhipicephalus microplus (2%). The total prevalence of tick infestation in dogs was 61%. The district with the highest tick prevalence rate in dogs was Mardan (14.7%), followed by Peshawar (13%), Swabi (12%), Charsadda (11%), and Malakand (10.3%), respectively. Risk factors analysis indicated that some demographic and host management-associated factors such as host age, breed, exposure to acaricides treatment, and previous tick infestation history were associated with a higher risk of tick infestation on dogs. This is the first molecular report confirming the infestation of Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus tick species in the dog population from the study area. The present study also reported a new tick–host association between Hy. excavatum, Hy. dromedarii, and dogs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that cox1 partial nucleotide sequences of Hy. excavatum in our dataset were 100% identical to similar tick specimens identified in Turkey, and those of Hy. dromedarii were identical to tick specimens from Iran. Whereas, Rh. haemaphysaloides and Rh. microplus’ cox1 partial nucleotide sequences were identical to sequences previously published from Pakistan. Rhipicephalus turanicus s.s. ‘s cox1 isolates from the present study were 99.8–100% identical to Pakistani-reported isolates, and those of Rh. sanguineus s.l. were 100% identical to Chinese specimens. Results on the genetic characterization of ticks were further confirmed by 16S rRNA partial nucleotide sequences analysis, which revealed 100% identity between the tick isolates of this study and those of Hy. excavatum reported from Turkey; Hy. dromedarii specimens reported from Senegal; Rh. haemaphysaloides, Rh. microplus, and Rh. turanicus s.s., previously published from Pakistan, and Rh. sanguineus s.l., published from China. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that the Rh. sanguineus s.l. isolates of this study clustered with specimens of the tropical lineage with 7.7–10% nucleotide divergence from the specimens of the temperate lineage. Further molecular works need to be performed throughout Pakistan to present a more detailed map of tick distribution with information about dog host associations, biological characteristics, and pathogen competence.

Population dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latrielle, 1806) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Parasites are among the most common pathogens recorded in dogs. High prevalence rates are usually reported in stray and shelter dogs, as these animals are less likely to be tested and treated. In this study a survey was carried out on intestinal and lung parasites of stray dogs at the moment of the admission in a shelter in Central Italy. In the period June 2014-June 2015, 262 individual faecal samples were examined. Twelve parasitic taxa were detected. Helminths were more prevalent than protozoa (61.8% and 25.6%, respectively). Ancylostomatidae showed the higher prevalence (40.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (21.4%), Toxocara canis (20.6%) and Trichuris vulpis (17.6%). Angiostrongylus vasorum was the most prevalent lungworm (12.6%), Crenosoma vulpis being recorded just in one dog. G. duodenalis had a high prevalence, probably because of the diagnostic techniques adopted, actually the most sensitive available for its detection. Nevertheless, the zoonotic potential of this parasite in dogs appears reduced, as all the isolates were identified as C (24.0%) and D (76.0%) dog specific assemblages. Taeniidae constituted a high potential zoonotic risk, as from the eggs it is impossible to exclude they were Echinococcus granulosus, the most relevant zoonotic parasite in Europe. The present study underline the importance of stray dogs control, aimed at preventing or minimizing parasitic spread and zoonotic transmission.

This article highlights the seroepidemiological situation of Borrelia spp. in canines from rural regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro. To achieve this, a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the profile of IgG-class anti-Borrelia antibodies in dogs, using samples from a canine serum bank collected across various municipalities in the state. Serological tests were performed using the Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect homologous IgG-class antibodies against B. burgdorferi strain G39/40 (American strain). Additionally, an epidemiological record was completed for each animal at the time of collection, including questions about the animals' characteristics, such as their living environment and street access. The owners signed a free and informed consent form before biological material was collected from the dogs. To analyze associations between variables, the Chi-square test was performed at a 5% significance level. The presence of anti-Borrelia antibodies was detected, with an overall prevalence of 8.0% (19/237). The prevalence data by municipality were as follows: Itaboraí 14.63% (6/41); Cachoeiras de Macacu 14.63% (8/57); Guapimirim 7.27% (4/55); Magé 2.5% (1/40); and Silva Jardim 0% (0/44). Higher prevalences were observed in Cachoeiras de Macacu and Itaboraí, with a significant difference noted in Silva Jardim. Different species of ticks from the genus Amblyomma spp., which are naturally involved in the transmission cycle to humans, as well as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a tick species that parasitizes dogs, were observed. The results suggest that the prevalence of seropositive dogs for IgG-class anti-Borrelia antibodies may be associated with degraded, anthropized rural areas in the municipalities studied. The eco-epidemiological differences observed in the study reinforce the role of dogs as sentinel animals for investigating the zoonotic cycle of borreliosis in the region. These findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring of anti-Borrelia antibody prevalence and tick infestations in dogs that cohabit with humans.

The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence and risk factors for tick infestation in dogs in the UK based on anonymised electronic patient records. Clinical records of dogs under veterinary care in 2016 at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme were followed over a 5-year period to identify cases of tick infestation. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. The study included 905,553 dogs. From a random sample, 1903 tick infestation cases were identified. The estimated 5-year (2014 to 2018) period prevalence was 2.03% (95% confidence interval: 2.00 to 2.06). Sixteen breeds showed increased odds compared with non-designer-crossbreed dogs. Breeds with the highest odds included Cairn terrier (odds ratio 2.86, 95% confidence interval 1.64 to 4.98), standard poodle (odds ratio 2.80, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 6.29) and Goldendoodle (odds ratio 2.63, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 5.91). Six breeds showed reduced odds, with lowest odds shown by Staffordshire bull terrier (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.50), Rottweiler (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.85) and Chihuahua (odds ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.55). Males had 1.24 (95% confidence interval 1.13 to 1.36) times the odds of females. Compared with non-designer-crossbred dogs, designer-crossbreed dogs had increased odds (odds ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 2.15). Compared with breeds with short coats, breeds with medium length coats (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.96 to 2.48) showed increased odds. Breeds with V-shaped drop and pendulous ear carriage had higher odds compared with breeds with erect ear carriage. These findings provide an evidence base for veterinary professionals to raise awareness of tick infestation as a preventable disorder in dogs in the UK and to support more effective prevention and therapeutic protocols based on targeted approaches.