Seasonal incidence and hemoparasite infection rates of Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) detached from cattle in Costa Rica.

To determine the tick species hindering the cattle industry in Costa Rica and to assess infection rates of ticks with three important hemoparasite species, cattle were monitored during a period of six months (October 1992-March 1993). Four farms were located in the dry pacific region of the canton of Tilarán and a fifth farm on the slopes of the Poás volcano in a cool tropical cloud-forest ecosystem. On each farm 3 to 5 animals of 6 to 24 months of age were selected at random. All ticks were removed on a monthly basis from the right half side of each animal, while the site of attachment was recorded. Ticks were counted and differentiated according to species, developmental stage and sex. Moreover, engorged female ticks were assayed for the presence of Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex system. Two species of ticks, Amblyomma cajennense and Boophilus microplus, were encountered on the cattle in the Tilarán region and one species, B. microplus, was detected in the Poás region. Two to ten times as many ticks were encountered in the Tilarán region than in the Poás region, which is in accordance with a stable enzootic protozoan disease situation in the former region and an unstable epizootic situation in the latter region. Nymphal and adult stages of both tick species were present in largest numbers on the ventral parts of the animals. PCR analysis of entire ticks indicated very high infection rates with hemoparasites of veterinary importance. This was in accordance with high seroprevalence rates in the hosts.