Life cycle of brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus latreille, 1806 under laboratory conditions
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Date
2016-11-05
Authors
Dissanayake, U.I.
Rajakaruna, R.S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya,Sri Lanka
Abstract
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae), is a three-host hard tick that feeds primarily on dogs, occasionally on other animals and rarely on humans. It is widely distributed around the world and acts as a vector of many pathogens, such as Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, and Rickettsia conorii. In Sri Lanka, R. sangenius has an island-wide distribution and is identified as the dominant dog tick species in the Wet zone. Biological parameters of the life cycle of R. sangenius were collected by experimental infestation of New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions (Temperature 27±1°C; Relative humidity 70%-80%). All the life cycle stages: larvae, nymphs and adults successfully fed on the rabbits under laboratory conditions. Engorged females (n=47) had a mean weight of 133.2 (54-187) mg, completed oviposition in 14 (3-19) days with an average pre-oviposition period of 4.9 (4- 7) days. Females laid an average of 1,414.2 (101-2760) of eggs. Eggs hatched after 29.6 (21- 43) days of incubation. Larvae (n=100) had a parasitic period of 3.1 (2-3) days. Of the larvae introduced, 62.7% successfully fed on rabbits and dropped off. The unfed larvae survived up to 65.3 (52-73) days. Total of 31.1% nymphs dropped after 5.1( 4-5) days and the moulting period was 14.3 (13-15) days, which had a mean weight of 5.4 mg. Unfed nymphs survived for up to 58 ( 37-45) days in the laboratory. The parasitic period of adults was 15.7 (7-15) days. The adult ticks (n= 15) completed feeding within 15.7 (7-15) days. Blood fed adult females lived for 18.2 (15-22) days and blood fed male lived for 317.4 (292-355) days. The Reproductive Efficiency Index (REI) and Reproductive Fitness Index (RFI) of the female were 12.7 (22-70) and 8.8 (1.8-20), respectively. The male to female sex ratio was 5:2 in laboratory raised adults. Rhicephalus sangenius completed its life cycle within 115.6 (±6.9) days. There are variations in the life cycle of Sri Lankan population of R. sangenius when compared to that of Italian and United States populations. These variations could be due to environmental conditions in different geographic regions.
Description
Keywords
Brown dog tick , Dogs , Reproductive Efficiency Index (REI) , Reproductive Fitness Index (RFI)
Citation
Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) – 2016, University of Peradeniya, P 360