Back to Search
Start Over
Seasonal dynamics of Anocentor nitens on horses in Brazil
- Source :
- Veterinary parasitology. 89(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Anocentor nitens is a widespread ectoparasite of horses in Brazil. A study of the seasonal dynamics of the parasitic phase of this tick was made by regular census of engorging females (≥4 mm) on free-ranging horses, fortnightly from July 1995 to July 1997, at Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais. Twenty horses were divided into four groups of five animals per group, each having a similar mix of resistant and less resistant animals, based on initial infestation. Every 2 weeks, one of the groups, in sequence, was treated with an acaricide to prevent excessive infestations, and female ticks were censused 38 days later. The acaricide dips did not interfere with the seasonal dynamics of the tick population, which produced three major peaks of activity over a 12-month period. The first two peaks were in the hot, wet season and the third in the cold dry season. Tick numbers were similar for the two 12-month periods, decreasing from the spring and summer to the autumn and winter. Infestation rates were not equal among different horses. Twenty percent of the horses were responsible for 48% of the total parasite load, while 30% accounted for only 2.5% of the total parasite load. Principal predilection sites were; the ear (61%), mane (21%), and muzzle and face (6%). Measures for the strategic control of A. nitens ticks are discussed.
- Subjects :
- Wet season
Veterinary medicine
Rain
Population
Biology
Tick
medicine.disease_cause
chemistry.chemical_compound
Ticks
parasitic diseases
Infestation
Dry season
medicine
Animals
Tick Control
Horses
education
education.field_of_study
General Veterinary
Acaricide
Coumaphos
Humidity
General Medicine
biology.organism_classification
Tick Infestations
chemistry
Parasitology
Female
Horse Diseases
Seasons
Brazil
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03044017
- Volume :
- 89
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Veterinary parasitology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5bb301c1e87ee59592956ace5ce3f0dc