The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus and the dog as experimental hosts of Ehrlichia canis
Lewis, G.E.; Ristic, M.; Smith, R.D.; Lincoln, T.; Stephenson, E.H.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 38(12): 1953-1955
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 596693 Document Number: 114725
Adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks efficiently transmitted Ehrlichia canis to susceptible dogs for 155 days after detachment as engorged nymphs from a dog in the acute phase of ehrlichiosis. Adult ticks that had similarly engorged on a dog in the chronic phase of ehrlichiosis failed to transmit E canis to susceptible dogs. Infected but unfed adult ticks may be of greater importance than the chronically infected carrier dog as a natural reservoir of E canis.