1Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, TANUVAS, Chennai-600007, TN
2Department of Clinical Medicine and Jurisprudence, Madras Veterinary College, TANUVAS, Chennai-600007, TN
3Veterinary Dispensary, Arakandanallur, Villupuram district, TN
4University Research Farm, TANUVAS, Madhavaram, Chennai-600 051, Tamil Nadu, India
5ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai-600028, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai-600007, Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding author. Email: drsoundarpara@gmail.com
Online published on 18 December, 2018.
Dog ticks are the most widespread ticks in the world and are well-recognized vectors of many pathogens affecting dogs and occasionally humans. A total of 352 dogs of different breeds were examined for the presence of ticks from June 2009 to May 2011 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The collected ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The overall prevalence of ticks was 58.52%. Among the seasons, highest prevalence of R. sanguineus was observed in northeast monsoon (34.46%) followed by southwest monsoon (30.10%), summer (23.79%) and lowest level in winter (11.65%). Adult dogs were heavily infested with R. sanguineus ticks than the puppies (67.96% vs 32.04%). Male dogs were highly infested (74.76%) than the female dogs (25.24%). Among the breeds, Spitz was highly infested (28.16%) followed by mongrels (24.76%), Labrador (17.48%), German shepherd (12.44%) and Doberman (4.37%). Other breeds were infested with very low levels ranging from 0.49% to 2.43%. Hairy breeds (Spitz, Labrador, German shepherd, Lhasa Apso, Border collie, Golden Retriever and Pomeranian) were heavily infested with ticks (61.17%) than the non-hairy breeds (38.83%).
Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Prevalence, Dogs, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
