Abstract

RAMIREZ-BARRIOS, Roger A et al. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Canines Under Veterinary Care in Maracaibo, Venezuela.. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.3, pp.267-270. ISSN 0798-2259.

A survey was carried out to identify ticks infesting dogs presented to Veterinary Policlinic of The University of Zulia (PVU-LUZ) in Maracaibo, Venezuela. For this, were collected 624 ticks from 64 dogs, those were identified. All of them were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The mean intensity was 9.8 ticks per dog (range: 2-55). Were collected 366 ticks female and 258 ticks male. Sexual ratio (male:female) was 1:1.4. There were 33 (51.69%) male dogs parasitized and 31 (48.4%) female dogs. Infestation by age was more common in dogs younger than 1 year old (78.1%) than older dogs (21.9%). Thirty-one (48.4%) pure-breed dogs were infested while mixed-breed dogs were 33 (51.6%). Statistical differences were not detected among the infestation according to sex, age or breed of the hosts. The only identified specie was R. sanguineus with a low mean intensity.

Keywords : Ticks; canines; Rhipicephalus sanguineus.