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Diversity and Geographic Distribution of Dog Tick Species in Sri Lanka and the Life Cycle of Brown Dog Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Under Laboratory Conditions

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Abstract

Purpose

This study determined the diversity and distribution of tick species infesting domestic dogs and the life cycle parameters of the dominant dog tick species.

Methods

An island-wide, cross-sectional survey of tick species infesting domestic dogs was carried out, and the life cycle of the most commonly occurring dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was studied under laboratory conditions.

Results

A total of 3026 ticks were collected from 1219 dogs in all 25 districts. Eight species in five genera were identified: R. sanguineus (63.4%), R. haemaphysaloides (22.0%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (12.5%), Haemaphysalis intermedia (0.9%), Haemaphysalis turturis (0.6%), Amblyomma integrum (0.4%), Dermacentor auratus (0.2%) and Hyalomma sp (0.1%). R. sanguineus was the dominant species in the Dry and Wet zones, while R. haemaphysaloides was the dominant species in the Intermediate Zone. Species diversity (Shannon diversity index H) was 1.135, 1.021and 0.849 in the Intermediate, Dry and Wet zones, respectively. The three-host life cycle of R. sanguineus was completed within 70–126 days, and all three stages successfully fed on New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions. The Reproductive Efficiency Index (REI) and Reproductive Fitness Index (RFI) were 50.8 ± 9.69 and 9.1 ± 5.01, respectively. Larger females had higher reproductive success.

Conclusions

Of the eight species infesting domestic dogs in Sri Lanka, R. sanguineaus was the most frequently occurring tick species. The three-host life cycle of R. sanguineus was successfully completed within an average of 98 days on New Zealand white rabbits. The number of eggs laid, duration of the pre-oviposition period, incubation period and parasitic periods of all three life stages were lower than in previous records.

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All data are available in hard copies and soft copies with the principal investigator stored securely releasable upon any reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the participants of the survey. Financial assistance from National Research Council, Sri Lanka (Grant 20–083) is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

Financial assistance from National Research Council, Sri Lanka (Grant 20–083) is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    K. O. Bandaranayaka, U. I. Dissanayake & R. S. Rajakaruna

  2. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    K. O. Bandaranayaka, U. I. Dissanayake & R. S. Rajakaruna

  3. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Sri Lanka

    K. O. Bandaranayaka

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  1. K. O. Bandaranayaka
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  2. U. I. Dissanayake
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  3. R. S. Rajakaruna
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Contributions

KOB: (conceptualization, Investigation, data curation, writing the original draft, visualization, formal analysis), UID: (investigation, data curation, writing the original draft, visualization, resources), RSR: (conceptualization, methodology, validation, writing review and editing, supervision, project administration).

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Correspondence to R. S. Rajakaruna.

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All the study protocols and objectives were approved by the Institutional Ethical Clearance Committee of Postgraduate Institute of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

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Bandaranayaka, K.O., Dissanayake, U.I. & Rajakaruna, R.S. Diversity and Geographic Distribution of Dog Tick Species in Sri Lanka and the Life Cycle of Brown Dog Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Under Laboratory Conditions. Acta Parasit. 67, 1708–1718 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-022-00622-5

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