Smith F D, Ballantyne R, Morgan E R, Wall R
Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, U.K.
Med Vet Entomol. 2011 Dec;25(4):377-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.00954.x. Epub 2011 Mar 21.
Current concerns over the potential impacts of climate change and the increased movement between countries of people and companion animals on the distribution of ectoparasites, highlight the need for accurate understanding of existing prevalence patterns. Without these future changes will not be detected. Here, the distribution and prevalence of tick infestations of domestic dogs in Great Britain were examined. A total of 173 veterinary practices were recruited to monitor tick attachment to dogs in their local areas between March and October 2009. Practices selected five dogs at random each week from those brought to the surgery and undertook a thorough, standardized examination for ticks. Each veterinary practice participated for 3 months before being replaced. Any ticks identified were collected and a sample sent to the investigators for identification, along with a clinical history of the dog. A total of 3534 dogs were examined; 810 dogs were found to be carrying at least one tick. Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) (Acari: Ixodidae) was identified in 72.1% of cases, Ixodes hexagonus Leach in 21.7% and Ixodes canisuga Johnston in 5.6% of cases. Five samples of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae) were also found, adding to the growing evidence that an established population of D. reticulatus now exists in south-eastern England. Almost all the ticks found were adults. Overall, 19.2% of the veterinary practices reported no tick detections, 50% reported that ≥14.9% of the dogs seen were infested and 14.6% reported that >50% of the dogs inspected carried ticks. The estimated incidence of tick attachment was 0.013 per day in March (lowest) and 0.096 per day in June (highest). A number of risk factors affected the likelihood of tick attachment on dogs. Gundog, terrier and pastoral breed groups were more likely to carry ticks, as were non-neutered dogs. Dogs with shorter hair were less likely to have ticks, and dogs were most likely to carry a tick in June. This study is of value because, unusually, it presents the results of a randomized sample of dogs and gives a prevalence which is higher than those previously recorded in Great Britain.
当前，人们对气候变化的潜在影响以及人和伴侣动物在国家间流动增加对外寄生虫分布的影响深感担忧，这凸显了准确了解现有流行模式的必要性。没有这些信息，未来的变化将无法被察觉。在此，对英国家犬蜱虫感染的分布和流行情况进行了调查。2009年3月至10月期间，共招募了173家兽医诊所来监测其所在地区狗身上的蜱虫附着情况。各诊所每周从带到诊所的狗中随机挑选5只，并对蜱虫进行全面、标准化的检查。每个兽医诊所参与3个月后更换。任何发现的蜱虫都被收集起来，一份样本连同狗的临床病史一起送交调查人员进行鉴定。总共检查了3534只狗；发现810只狗至少携带一只蜱虫。蓖麻硬蜱（Linnaeus）（蜱螨目：硬蜱科）在72.1%的病例中被鉴定出来，六角硬蜱Leach在21.7%的病例中被鉴定出来，犬硬蜱Johnston在5.6%的病例中被鉴定出来。还发现了5份网纹革蜱（Fabricius）（蜱螨目：硬蜱科）的样本，这进一步证明了在英格兰东南部现在存在一个已定居的网纹革蜱种群。几乎所有发现的蜱虫都是成虫。总体而言，19.2%的兽医诊所报告未检测到蜱虫，50%的诊所报告所见狗中有≥14.9%受到感染，14.6%的诊所报告检查的狗中有>50%携带蜱虫。估计蜱虫附着的发生率在3月最低，为每天0.013，在6月最高，为每天0.096。一些风险因素影响狗身上蜱虫附着的可能性。枪猎犬、梗犬和畜牧犬品种组更有可能携带蜱虫，未绝育的狗也是如此。毛发较短的狗携带蜱虫的可能性较小，狗在6月最有可能携带蜱虫。这项研究具有价值，因为不同寻常的是，它展示了狗的随机抽样结果，且给出的流行率高于英国此前记录的水平。
