Dykstra E A, Slater M R, Teel P D, Russell L H
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, USA.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997 Feb 1;210(3):360-5.
To determine the extent and source of tick-related problems encountered by veterinary clinics and pest control company (PCC) clientele experiencing residential tick infestations in urban/suburban environments and to determine which tick-related diseases in dogs were diagnosed and treated at veterinary clinics.
Cross-sectional survey.
Veterinary clinics and PCC in Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin/San Antonio, Tex.
Surveys were made into professionally printed booklets and mailed to participants.
Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin/San Antonio clinics indicated that tick-related problems comprised 21 and 15%, respectively, of their canine-based business. The most frequently observed species was the brown dog tick. Tick infestations were most common during May through August. Immature tick populations were seen by the greatest number of clinics in May and June, and engorged female ticks were encountered most often in June and July. Ticks were most commonly found around homes and adjacent yards or lots. Greenbelts were perceived by all 4 study groups to be the principal place in the community where ticks were acquired by clients' dogs. Canine ehrlichiosis was the most common tick-related disease diagnosed and treated at clinics, followed by anemia caused by tick infestation.
Identification of ticks is important, because different tick species transmit different disease agents and different ecologic factors may be associated with exposure and subsequent treatment. Knowledge of temporal activity patterns of ticks, where they are acquired and where populations become established, combined with improved cooperative efforts between veterinary clinics and PCC, would aid in more effective control and management of ticks.
确定城市/郊区环境中遭遇住宅蜱虫侵扰的兽医诊所和害虫防治公司（PCC）客户所遇到的蜱虫相关问题的程度和来源，并确定兽医诊所诊断和治疗的犬类蜱虫相关疾病。
横断面调查。
得克萨斯州达拉斯/沃思堡和奥斯汀/圣安东尼奥的兽医诊所和PCC。
调查问卷印制成专业手册并邮寄给参与者。
达拉斯/沃思堡和奥斯汀/圣安东尼奥的诊所表明，蜱虫相关问题分别占其犬类业务的21%和15%。最常观察到的蜱虫种类是褐犬蜱。蜱虫侵扰在5月至8月最为常见。5月和6月，大多数诊所都发现了未成熟的蜱虫种群，6月和7月最常遇到饱血的雌蜱。蜱虫最常见于房屋周围及相邻的院子或地段。所有4个研究组都认为绿化带是社区中客户的狗获取蜱虫的主要场所。犬埃立克体病是诊所诊断和治疗的最常见的蜱虫相关疾病，其次是蜱虫侵扰引起的贫血。
蜱虫的识别很重要，因为不同种类的蜱虫传播不同的病原体，不同的生态因素可能与接触及后续治疗有关。了解蜱虫的时间活动模式、蜱虫的获取地点和种群建立地点，再加上兽医诊所和PCC之间加强合作，将有助于更有效地控制和管理蜱虫。
