title: Amblyomma cajennense infestation on horses in two microregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with infestation by Amblyomma cajennense on horses in two microregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Horses on 62 farms in the municipalities of the Itaguaí and Serrana microregions were evaluated between January and May 2009. The animals were examined to determine the presence of ticks and infestation level. The animals' rearing and management were assessed on each farm property using an epidemiological questionnaire. Out of the 635 horses evaluated, 41.6% were infested with A. cajennense. It was observed that farms in low-altitude regions (OR=3.69; CI: 2.3-5.8), with unsatisfactory zootechnical and sanitary management (OR=5.92; CI: 3.8-9.2) and an extensive rearing system (OR=4.25; CI: 2.1-8.5) were factors associated with tick infestation (p < 0.05) and also with cases of high infestation on horses. Use of chemical acaricides on horses was also associated with infestation (p < 0.05); the owners described different therapeutic approaches with different treatment intervals. From the present study, low altitudes, unsatisfactory management, extensive rearing and inappropriate use of acaricide products were factors associated with occurrences of A. cajennense at different infestation levels on horses in these municipalities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. marcussandes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Marcus Sandes
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Tiago Marques dos
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Huarrisson Azevedo
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Joice Aparecida Rezende
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Maristela Peckle
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Erica Cristina Rocha
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Roier
authors.forename: Claudia Bezerra da
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Jairo Dias
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.forename: Elba Regina Sampaio de
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Carlos Luiz
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Massard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D026863:Ixodidae; D008297:Male; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*