1,721,210 research outputs found
Species diversity and abundance of ticks in three habitats in southern Italy
No full textA 2-year study was conducted from March 2010 to March 2012 in a forested area in southern Italy to evaluate the species diversity and abundance of free-living ticks in 3 different habitats: (i) a meadow habitat within an enclosure inhabited by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus); (ii) a man-made trail located in a high-altitude, forested area; and (iii) a grassland near a house inhabited by 3 people. In total, 10,795 ticks were collected. Ixodes ricinus was the most abundant species (69.0%), followed by Haemaphysalis inermis (19.1%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (6.7%), Dermacentor marginatus (3.2%), and Hyalomma marginatum (1.0%). The least frequently collected species were Rhipicephalus bursa, Haemaphysalis parva, Haemaphysalis sulcata, and Haemaphysalis concinna, representing together less than 1% of the collections. Immature ticks predominated over adult ticks. In particular, immature stages of Ix. ricinus (i.e., 3246 larvae and 3554 nymphs) represented 63% of the total number of ticks collected. High levels of species diversity and abundance of ticks were recorded in all habitats and the daily number of ticks collected was negatively correlated with daily mean temperature, evapotranspiration, and saturation deficit. This study indicates that the southern Italian climate is suitable for different tick species, which may find a preferred 'climate niche' during a specific season, when a combination of factors (e.g., suitable meteorological and environmental conditions) associated with the presence of suitable hosts will facilitate their development and reproduction
The prevention of canine leishmaniasis and its impact on public health.
No full textCanine leishmaniasis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is a vector-borne disease of great veterinary and medical significance. Prevention of CanL requires a combined approach including measures focused on dogs and the environment where the vectors perpetuate. Over past decades, considerable effort has been put towards developing novel and cost-effective strategies against CanL. Vaccination is considered among the most promising tools for controlling CanL, and synthetic pyrethroids are useful and cost-effective in reducing risk of L. infantum infection in dogs. The effectiveness of the use of vaccines plus repellents in preventing L. infantum infection and subsequent disease development should be assessed by means of large-scale, randomized controlled field trials because this combined strategy may become the next frontier in the control of CanL
Seasonal dynamics of Ixodes ricinus on ground level and higher vegetation in a preserved wooded area in southern Europe
No full textIxodes ricinus is a major vector of pathogens affecting animals and humans in Europe. Despite its wide distribution, data on the ecology of I. ricinus in some areas is meager, which might impair the elaboration of reliable models to predict the risk of pathogen transmission in areas where this tick is currently present. Herein, we analyze some aspects of the ecology of I. ricinus in a wooded area of southern Italy. From March 2010 to March 2012, ticks were collected on a monthly basis by dragging and flagging in three different sites in a wooded area located in southern Italy, within the boundaries of the Gallipoli Cognato Forest, in the Basilicata region, southern Italy. Immature ticks were more abundant than adults (immature:adult ratio, 10.5:1). The abundance of larvae on the ground-level vegetation was generally higher than on higher vegetation (19.1 vs. 8.3 ticks per hour), whereas nymphs, males and females were more abundant on the higher vegetation (22.3 vs. 14.2, 2.9 vs. 0.8, 2.7 vs. 1.0 ticks per hour, respectively). Larvae were most abundant in summer (27.4 ticks per hour), whereas nymphs, females, and males peaked in seasons other than summer. This study underlines that I. ricinus is well adapted to southern Italian conditions, where it remains active during the whole year, displaying spatiotemporal distribution patterns that are different from central and north European populations. Remarkably, it points out that the life cycle of I. ricinus in southern Italy may be completed in approximately 1 year. Data generated will be valuable to elaborate better models to predict the distribution of this tick in Europe and to assess the risk of transmitted diseases, particularly Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephaliti
Further thoughts on the taxonomy and vector role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks
No full textRhipicephalus sanguineus is a tick species described in 1806 by Latreille, based on specimensprobably collected in France. However, this is a taxon with uncertain morphological defi-nition and recent studies have gathered irrefutable evidence supporting the existence of acryptic species-complex under the name ‘R. sanguineus’, whose number of sibling speciesaround the world has yet to be ascertained. This fact is of great medical and veterinary con-cern, also considering that ticks currently identified as ‘R. sanguineus’ have been regardedas proven or putative vectors of several pathogens infecting dogs and humans. Differencesin the distribution and prevalence of some of these microorganisms (e.g., Ehrlichia canisand Hepatozoon canis) further support the existence of distinct species under the name ‘R.sanguineus’ and suggest that the vector competence of these tick species may vary. Thisarticle provides an account on the taxonomy and the vector role of ticks belonging to theR. sanguineus group in the light of recent researc
Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs: relationships between attachment sites and tick developmental stages
No full texthe brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is the most widespread tick in the world and infests primarily domestic dogs. Studies on the bio-ecology of R. sanguineus have been carried out worldwide, but little is known of the on-dog relationships of tick developmental stages and their possible role on tick feeding per- formance, reproduction and pathogen transmission. We studied the relationships between different developmental stages of R. sanguineus on particular body areas of naturally infested dogs. In addition, we assessed whether these relationships could vary according to sex and breed of the dogs. Over 2,200 tick records were analyzed and the results showed that attachment sites of males and females are strongly positively correlated whereas attachment sites of nymphs and adults tend to be negatively correlated. Our findings indicate that adult ticks generally feed on sites (e.g., ears) that make it difficult for dogs to remove them, whereas immatures feed on lower areas of the dog’s body (e.g., belly, rump, and hind legs), probably because of their more limited mobility. Further research on the possible on-dog interactions of adult and immature ticks is needed to better understand why their attachment sites tend to be negatively correlated and to assess their possible implications for pathogen transmission
Best Practices for Preventing Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs and Humans.
No full textVector-borne diseases constitute a diversified group of illnesses, which arecaused by a multitude of pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors, suchas mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and sand flies. Proper management of thesediseases is important from both human and veterinary medicine standpoints,given that many of these pathogens are transmissible to humans and dogs,which often live in close contact. In this review, we summarize the mostimportant vector-borne diseases of dogs and humans and the best practicesfor their prevention. The control of these diseases would ultimately improveanimal and human health and wellbeing, particularly in developing countriesin the tropics, where the risk of these diseases is high and access to healthcare is poor
Dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in Brazil: opening the black box.
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Dogs and cats in Brazil serve as primary hosts for a considerable number of parasites, which may affect their health and wellbeing. These may include endoparasites (e.g., protozoa, cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes) and ectoparasites (i.e., fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). While some dog and cat parasites are highly host-specific (e.g., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Felicola subrostratus for cats, and Angiostrongylus vasorum and Trichodectes canis for dogs), others may easily switch to other hosts, including humans. In fact, several dog and cat parasites (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma caninum, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Toxocara canis) are important not only from a veterinary perspective but also from a medical standpoint. In addition, some of them (e.g., Lynxacarus radovskyi on cats and Rangelia vitalii in dogs) are little known to most veterinary practitioners working in Brazil. This article is a compendium on dog and cat parasites in Brazil and a call for a One Health approach towards a better management of some of these parasites, which may potentially affect humans. Practical aspects related to the diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitic diseases of dogs and cats in Brazil are discussed
Managing canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part one
No full textCanine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) comprise a group of globally distributed and rapidly spreading illnesses that are caused by a range of pathogens transmitted by arthropods including ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies. In addition to their veterinary importance, some CVBD-causing pathogens are of major zoonotic concern. Recent studies using sophisticated and advanced methodologies and technologies have provided new insights into the epidemiology of many CVBDs. This review is the first of two articles and focuses on the zoonotic relevance of CVBDs, the significance of co-infection and the role of infected but clinically healthy dogs in spreading different pathogens among human and canine populations
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