Prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar

Aim: To study the prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar. Materials and Methods: A total of 610 dogs (360 stray dogs & 250 pet dogs) in and around Bhubaneswar belonging to either sex were examined for tick infestation during a period of one year (Aug 2011July 2012). Standard parasitological procedures were followed for collection, processing and identification of ticks. Result: 283 dogs (46.39%) were found positive for tick infestation with three different ixodid tick spp., viz. Rhipicephalus spp (39.51%), Boophilus spp.(4.92%) and Haemaphysalis spp. (1.97%) with many dogs having mixed infestations. Higher rate of incidence was recorded among stray dogs (58.33%) as compared to pet dogs (29.20%). Prevalence among dogs less than 1 year of age was higher (53.41%) than dogs above one year (45.21%). The overall percentage of incidence was higher (53.97%) among males than females (38.31%) in both stray and pet dogs. Influence of age and the variation due to sex on prevalence of tick infestations was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Highest percentage of prevalence (48.86%) was recorded during rainy season followed by summer season (40.39%) and lowest (32.24%) in winter. Influence of season on the prevalence of tick infestation was highly significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study revealed the occurrence of three types of ixodid ticks in dogs with a prevalence of mixed infestation. Influence of age, sex and season on the prevalence of tick infestation was found to be significant.


Introduction
commonly present [3][4][5][6][7][8].Besides this, other Ixodid ticks infesting dogs belong to different genera viz.Ticks, like other arthropods, live as blood sucking Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, Boophilus, Dermacenter and ectoparasites.These are the most important group of Amblyoma which occur with varied level of prevalence arthropods which act as vectors of many bacterial, in different parts of world [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Otobius megnini is viral, rickettsial and protozoan diseases of dogs.Ticks the only soft tick species found in dogs [15].attach to the dog's body, suck blood causing anemia and Different control strategies against ticks and tick can transmit diseases like ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, borne diseases like integrated pest management (IPM) babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, bartenellosis, lyme have been adopted to reduce the intensity of acaricide disease and some zoonotic diseases like Rocky use; measures that can minimize the chance of drug mountain spotted fever and Tularemia.Tick bite causes resistance, using new generation herbal acaricides, irritation, redness, swelling, itching and self trauma.
development of tick vaccines and biological control One of the most harmful impacts of tick bite is the methods.Though it was applied for cattle in Australia, release of neurotoxins from tick saliva leading to tick Latin America and Africa [16,17], no such program has paralysis, systemic illness and hypersensitivity been implemented yet for control of ticks in dogs.reactions [1].In general, different parasitic infestations Because these ticks infesting dogs can come in including tick infestations are more prevalent in stray contact with human beings or other animals while in dogs, but the pet dogs which directly or indirectly get close proximity and cause serious zoonotic diseases, exposed to stray dogs also frequently suffer from the present study was conducted to assess the different parasitic infestations.
prevalence of tick infestation among pet and stray dogs Climatic conditions in India are quite favourable with an aim to develop a strategic control programme for growth and multiplication of arthropods [2].
against tick infestations in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar.Among different species of ticks infesting dogs,

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick) is most
Ethical approval: The experiment was done in accordance with the guidelines provided by the institutional ethical committee and also complies with the country's laws.Study period: The study was carried out for a period of specimens of either sex were subjected to permanent one year from Aug 2011 to July 2012.
mounting for morphological study as per the procedure described by Soulsby [18].between stray and pet dogs recorded during the present were examined.
study might be due to the better living environment of pet dogs and regular application of acaricidal agents by Collection of ticks: For collection of ticks, the stray the conscious pet owners.dogs after being anaesthetized for animal birth control Data on age wise prevalence of tick infestation in operation under ABC programme, and pet dogs after both pet and stray dogs under study are summarized in being properly restrained, were thoroughly examined Table-1 which reveals higher percentage (53.41%) of (ear, neck, back and belly, inter-digital spaces and in prevalence among dogs less than 1year of age than between the thighs) and with the help of forceps freely dogs above one year (45.21%).Influence of age on moving ticks were collected.A drop of xylene or prevalence of tick infestations was found higher in both chloroform was placed over the point of attachment of stray and pet dogs that are less than 1 year of age.ticks to the body in order to loosen and remove the However, the influence of age on tick infestation was firmly attached ticks.Ticks collected were transferred statistically significant (p<0.05) in respect to stray into properly labeled plastic containers having dogs only.This variation might be due to the developperforated stoppers and brought to the laboratory for ment of resistance and effective scratching activity in further processing.adult dogs than in the young age groups.The higher percentage of incidence among dogs below 1 year of Processing and identification: Live ticks were first age, reported from earlier studies in Maharashtra, India transferred into luke warm water in order to fix them in [8], and in Shiraz, Iran [21], corroborates with the an extended position.Fixed ticks were preserved in present observation.glycerinated 70% alcohol.Some of the representative

Conclusions
Sex wise prevalence of tick infestation in dogs is shown in Table-1.The overall percentage of prevalence Ticks are the important vectors of a wider variety was found to be higher (53.97%) among males than of pathogenic agents than any other group of arthropods.females (38.31%) in both stray and pet dogs and the Prevalence study to identify the epidemiological status variation due to sex was statistically significant of various tick species can guide future researchers for (p<0.05).Higher percentage of tick infestations in successful implementation of tick control programmes.male dogs was also recorded by earlier workers Basing on our results it is concluded that the prevalence [21,22].Hormonal factors might be playing some role of tick infestation in dogs in the study area is higher which predisposes male dogs more to tick infestations because of the hot and humid climate.Identified risk in this area.In contrast, some workers [11,23] reported factors (age, sex and season) should enable veterinarians higher prevalence of tick infestation among females to prevent tick infestations in pet dogs although than males whereas no sex wise differences were differences in risk of tick infestation may be related to observed by some others [24][25][26][27].
outdoor activity of dogs in this area.Our findings will Three seasons namely rainy (July-October), aid in designing proper measures to reduce the chance winter (November-February) and summer (Marchof many vector borne diseases in general and some June) prevails over Bhubaneswar which has variable zoonotic diseases in particular.Hence we recommend ambient air temperature, relative humidity and average that extensive investigation should be conducted to rain fall.Analysis of data on the influence of season on establish the role of ticks as vectors of diseases.prevalence of tick infestation in dogs distributed over three seasons (Table-1) revealed highest percentage Authors' contributions (48.86%) of prevalence during rainy season followed AS and BM designed the study.AS collected the by summer (40.39%) and lowest (32.24%) in winter, samples and analysed them.BM and MRP provided and influence of season on prevalence of tick technical guidance and participated in scientific infestation was highly significant (p<0.01).Earlier investigations and discussion.KKS participated in data workers [8,23] have recorded highest incidence rate analysis and discussion.MD participated in the during post-monsoon and lowest in winter, discussion and drafted the manuscript.All authors read respectively.Variation in the percentage of prevalence and approved the final manuscript.during different season could be attributed to the fact that the breeding of ixodid ticks is highly favoured by

pdf Prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar
Study area: Both stray and pet dogs from different locations in and around Bhubaneswar were included in Present findings were in general agreement with the pet dogs belonging to either sex and two different age above reports.The variation in the rate of incidence groups ( below one year age and above one year age) Statistical analysis: The data recorded during the this study.The stray dogs brought to the Government present study were subjected to statistical analysis Veterinary Dispensary, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme (carried version 17.0.Chi-square test was used to establish the out jointly by the Fisheries and Animal Resources association.[19] Development Department, Government of Odisha and

Table - 1
. Species/Age/Sex/Season Wise Prevalence of Tick Infestation in Dogs