Host finding of the pigeon tick Argas reflexus.
Med Vet Entomol
; 30(2): 193-9, 2016 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26959079
ABSTRACT
The medically and veterinary important feral pigeon tick Argas reflexus (Ixodida Argasidae) Fabricius usually feeds on pigeons, but if its natural hosts are not available, it also enters dwellings to bite humans that can possibly react with severe allergic reactions. Argas reflexus is ecologically extremely successful as a result of some outstanding morphological, physiological, and ethological features. Yet, it is still unknown how the pigeon tick finds its hosts. Here, different host stimuli such as living nestlings as well as begging calls, body heat, smell, host breath and tick faeces, were tested under controlled laboratory conditions. Of all stimuli tested, only heat played a role in host-finding. The heat stimulus was then tested under natural conditions within a pigeon loft. The results showed that A. reflexus is able to find a host over short distances of only a few centimetres. Furthermore, it finds its host by random movements and recognizes a host only right before direct contact is made. The findings are useful for the control of A. reflexus in infested apartments, both to diagnose an infestation and to perform a success monitoring after disinfestation.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Columbidae
/
Infestações por Carrapato
/
Doenças das Aves
/
Argas
/
Comportamento de Busca por Hospedeiro
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med Vet Entomol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suíça