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Hard ticks infesting canine hosts were determined for the first time in northern Taiwan. Between May 2010 and April 2011, a total of 9467 ticks were collected from 2025 dogs. They were identified based on pictorial keys of their morphological characteristics. These ticks belong to three genus and six species: Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis hystricis, H. lagrangei, H. formosensis and Ixodes ovatus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most dominant species (92.5%), followed by H. hystricis (4.6%), R. haemaphysaloides (2.3%), I. ovatus (0.54%), H. lagrangei (0.04%) and H. formosensis (0.01%). The overall density was 4.7 ticks per dog (ranging from 1.8 to 20.8) and the highest seasonal prevalence was observed in September with an average density of 8.2 ticks per dog. Our results not only provide the first survey of hard ticks infesting dogs in northern Taiwan, but also highlight the possible impact of these tick species on human health.

A Taiwan stink snake (Elaphe carinata) was captured in shrubbery at a fruit farm in southern Taiwan, and 3 female ticks (2 flat, one fully engorged) observed on this snake were collected and identified as Amblyomma helvolum, the first record of this host association in mainland Taiwan. The key morphological characters of female A. helvolum were photographed using a stereomicroscope. This first report of A. helvolum feeding on a reptilian host in Taiwan includes the first color illustrations of adult A. helvolum ever published. The increased international trade in wild reptiles may contribute to accidental transportation of ticks into Taiwan. The host range and vector capacity of A. helvolum for various tick-borne pathogens need to be further clarified., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)