Seasonal incidence and attachment sites of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on domestic dogs in southeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, USA.

Abstract

Between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981, a total of 74,865 ticks were collected from 870 domestic dogs in southeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. A total of 754 dogs were infested with either lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (71.8%), brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (70.6%), American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (23.6%), black-legged ticks, Ixodes scapularis (20.9%). The average number of R. sanguineus per dog was greatest (53.6) followed by A. americanum (30.7), I. scapularis (1.1), and D. variabilis (0.8). The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum , and Ixodes cookei found occasionally. Brown dog ticks were observed on dogs in all months except December and the first engorged females were observed in February. Most adult ticks were found attached to the head, neck, and back; nymphs were most common on the ears, and most larvae were found on the rump, hind legs, and tail. Lone star ticks were observed attached to dogs in every month. Engorged females were also first noted in early February, but few adults were found after July. Adults were generally evenly distributed over the body, with fewest ticks on the back. Larvae were most abundant on the ears, whereas nymphs were most abundant on the chest and front legs. American dog ticks were found attached to dogs only from March to September. Adults were most common on the ears, head and neck; no immatures were found. Black-legged ticks first appeared in early October and were common on dogs through early May. Adults were most common on the head and neck, and, as with D. variabilis , no immatures were found. Over 62% of the dogs examined in this survey had 2 or more tick species attached simultaneously.