Identification of Ticks in Dogs with Ehrlichiosis

Abstract

Examination of ticks collected from ehrlichiosis positive dogs revealed the occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The distribution of ehrlichiosis in dogs is related to the spreading of vectors. Ehrlichia canis is the etiologic agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and recognized as the most prevalent tick-borne disease affecting dogs and is transmitted by the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus with an expanding global distribution. Infection of the vertebrate host occurred when an infected tick ingested a blood meal which in turn contaminated the feeding site with its salivary secretion. Blood transfusions from infected donors can also transmit the organisms. Hence, identification of ticks is necessary to detect the disease affecting dogs.

The Anti-Ectoparasite Effects of Different Topical Spots-on Formulation Against Ticks and Fleas in Naturally Infested Stray and Owned Dogs

“…Furthermore, ticks and fleas pooling samples from examined dogs were cleared in lactophenol media, then mounted permanently on polyvol, and left in a hot air oven at 50°C for 24 h (22,23). After that, tick and flea species were morphologically identified using light (Leica, USA) and stereomicroscopes (Optika, Italy) according to standard keys (24, 25,26). The infected dogs with ticks were examined by thumb counts on days 0, 1, 2, 7, 15, 30 and 45, while both adult and eggs of fleas were examined by comb-counting with the use of fine flea comb on the same previous days as previously described (27).…”