Survey of ticks of domestic dogs and cattle in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

Objective: Ticks and the pathogens they transmit can cause high morbidity and mortality in domestic animals. As part of a larger study to determine the tickborne pathogens infesting domestic animals and wildlife, the aim of this study was to survey the tick species infesting the canine and cattle populations in Trinidad and Tobago. Design and Methodology: A total of 1,990 ticks were collected off of 179 dogs from 48 areas in Trinidad (n=163) and Tobago (n=16) only between June 2016 and 2018. Ticks were also collected from cattle throughout Trinidad (n=1098) and Tobago (n=306). Collected ticks were morphologically identified using standard taxonomic keys. Results: Only two tick species, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1,926; 96.8%) and Amblyomma ovale (64; 3.2%) were found on the dogs sampled in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). A total of 169 (94.4%) dogs and 10 (17.9%) dogs were infested with R. sanguineus and A. ovale respectively. Three dogs (1.7%) were infested with both tick species. Only hunting dogs or those closely associated with them were infested with A. ovale. R. sanguineus was very common throughout both islands whereas A. ovale was restricted to small foci in three rural settlements in both Trinidad (n=2) and Tobago (n=1). Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was the only tick species found infesting cattle on both islands. Conclusion: R. sanguineus is the most common tick infesting domestic dogs in T&T while A. ovale was found on fewer dogs. Only R. (B). microplus was detected on cattle. R. sanguineus is a known vector of tick-borne diseases in domestic dogs and humans while R. B. microplus can transmit harmful pathogens to cattle. These preliminary findings will aid in determining if there are any possible links between ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with domestic and wildlife species and possibly humans and give further insight into the potential movement of ticks and their pathogens between the human, animal and tropical forest interface.