Evaluation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus as a potential biologic vector of Ehrlichia platys
Simpson, R.M.; Gaunt, S.D.; Hair, J.A.; Kocan, K.M.; Henk, W.G.; Casey, H.W.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 52(9): 1537-1541
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 1952347 Document Number: 387270
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.