Evaluation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus as a potential biologic vector of Ehrlichia platys.
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae), transmits several diseases among dogs including Ehrlichia canis infection. The role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus as a biologic vector for E platys, the rickettsial agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia, was studied in dogs. Laboratory-cultured, pathogen-free nymph ticks were fed to repletion on dogs acutely infected with E platys. Tick engorgement coincided with the development of initial parasitemia and thrombocytopenia in the infected dogs. Following repletion, nymph ticks were allowed to molt under controlled conditions. One-month-old E platys-exposed adult ticks failed to infect naive dogs in animal transmission studies. The presence of E platys was not detected in midguts or salivary glands of similarly exposed adult ticks by use of light and transmission electron microscopy. These studies indicate that R sanguineus may not transmit E platys infection.
Simpson
R M
RM
Department of Veterinary Pathology School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
Gaunt
S D
SD
Hair
J A
JA
Kocan
K M
KM
Henk
W G
WG
Casey
H W
HW
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*