Resumen

FORLANO, María et al. Species of amblyomma (acari: ixodidae) parasitizing dogs (canis familiaris) from rural areas of Lara, Yaracuy, Carabobo and Falcón States, Venezuela. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.6, pp.662-666. ISSN 0798-2259.

Fifty dogs from the rural areas of Lara, Yaracuy, Carabobo and Falcón States of Venezuela were sampled through the visual and touch techniques in search of the presence of ticks. All the dogs were free of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. A total of 139 adult ticks of the genus Amblyomma Koch, 1844 were collected: of them, 65 males and 72 females were identified as Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, whereas two females belonged to the species Amblyomma triste Koch, 1844. The observation through stereomicroscope, as well as the use of taxonomic keys, were employed in the identification of the collected specimens. Most of the ticks were collected in Falcón and Lara States, totalling 52 (38%) and 49 (36%), respectively. The species A. ovale has been reported as a natural vector of the protozoan Hepatozoon canis in rural areas. A. triste was collected only in one dog in Yaracuy State. This species has been incriminated as a biological vector of several rickettsial agents to the men and animals. The actual role of the genus Amblyomma as vector of zoonotic disease agents is highlighted.

Palabras clave : Dogs; Amblyomma ovale; Amblyomma triste; Venezuela.