The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) on an imported dog |
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| Authors: | P.B. McKenna B.SC DIP. WILD. MGT. J.D. Tenquist J. Ker M.R.C.V.S. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Palmerston North Animal Health Laboratory , Private Bag, Palmerston North;2. Wallaceville Animal Research Centre , Private Bag, Upper Hutt;3. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , New Plymouth |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Extract Sir, — We wish to record the presence of the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus on a dog imported from Australia. This tick is mainly parasitic on dogs although on rare occasions it has been collected from non-canine hosts (Roberts, 1965 Roberts, F. H. S. 1965. The taxonomie status of the species of the genera Rhipicephalus (Koch) and Boophilus (Curtice) occurring in Australia. Aust. J. Zool., 13: 491–523. [Google Scholar]). Experimentally it has been shown capable of transmitting a wide variety of serious diseases but its role as a natural vector of many of them is unknown. In Australia it has been demostrated as being naturally infected with Coxiella burnetii (Smith, 1942 Smith, D. J. W. 1942. Studies on the epidemiology of Q Fever. Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci., 20: 295–296. [Google Scholar]) and is recorded from all continents and some oceanic islands lying between latitudes 50°N and 36°S (Roberts, 1970 Roberts, F. H. S. 1970. Australian ticks, 87–87. CSIRO. [Google Scholar]). Auckland falls within this boundaries and therefore it is not unreasonable to suggest that R. sanguineus could become established in New Zealand. |
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