Distribution of ixodid ticks on dogs in Nuevo León, Mexico, and their association with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Abstract

This study aimed to document the geographic distribution of Ixodes tick species in dogs and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in adult ticks and blood samples by amplification of the ospA region of the B. burgdorferi genome. The study area included nine localities in Nuevo León state. DNA amplification was performed on pools of ticks to calculate the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and the community composition (prevalence, abundance, and intensity of infestation) was recorded. A total of 2,543 adult ticks, representing four species, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and Amblyomma cajennense, were recorded from 338 infested dogs. Statistically significant correlations were observed between female dogs and infestation (P = 0.0003) and between R. sanguineus and locality (P = 0.0001). Dogs sampled in Guadalupe and Estanzuela were positive by PCR (0.9 %) for B. burgdorferi. Rhipicephalus sanguineus had the highest abundance, intensity, and prevalence (10.57, 7.12 and 94.6, respectively). PCR results from 256 pools showed that four pools were positive for D. variabilis (1.6 %), with an MLE of 9.2 %; nevertheless, it is important to consider that in the area under examination probably other reservoir hosts for D. variabilis and B. burgdorferi are present that, very likely, play a much more important role in the ecology of Lyme borreliosis than dogs, which could be considered in future studies.

The Dermacentor (Acari, Ixodida, Ixodidae) of Mexico: hosts, geographical distribution and new records

“…HIDALGO : ND, ND ( Tovar 1945 ); cattle ( Hoffmann 1961 , Hoffmann 1962 , Hoffmann and López-Campos 2000 ). NUEVO LEÓN : ND, ND ( Woodham et al 1983 ); ND, environment ( Oliveira et al 2010 ); Guadalupe, dog ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Pesquería, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Benito Juárez, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Apodaca, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Estanzuela, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Guadalupe, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); Escobedo, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ); San Nicolás de los Garza, dogs ( Galaviz-Silva et al 2013 ). SAN LUIS POTOSÍ : ND, ND ( Tovar 1945 ).…”

Countrywide serological evaluation of canine prevalence for Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), Dirofilaria immitis and Ehrlichia canis in Mexico

“…All of the dogs positive for B. burgdorferi ( sensu lato ) presented clinical signs compatible with CVBD, that finding is in agreement with the fact that the SNAP 4DX kit could be more sensitive to detect antibodies during active infection [ 26 ], which could not explain the low seroprevalence recorded here. Low prevalence (0.9 %) was previously reported among 338 dogs from Nuevo Leon, detected by PCR assay [ 29 ]. In contrast, higher seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi (16 %) was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay among 850 dogs from Monterrey, a city located in the Northeast of Mexico [ 23 ].…”

Checklist of ectoparasites of Canidae and Felidae in Mexico

“…Specimens in collections: Unknown; Hoffmann collection is in the CNAC. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say, 1821 NUEVO LEÓN: Benito Juárez: Canis lupus familiaris (Galaviz-Silva et al 2013). No specimens in collections.…”

“…Specimens in collections: USNTC (RML32929). NUEVO LEÓN: Pesquería; Benito Juárez; Apodaca; Estanzuela; Guadalupe; Escobedo: C. lupus familiaris(Galaviz-Silva et al 2013. No specimens in collections.…”