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Association between ecological factors and the presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larvae in Puerto Rico

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Abstract

A prevalence study was conducted to survey tick larvae populations in Puerto Rico (PR), compare the number of infested sites with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larvae between the wet and dry season, and assess the associations of ecologic factors on the presence of R. microplus larvae. Ninety-six sites were selected using a GIS-based sampling method. Each site was sampled twice; the first sampling was performed during the dry season (March 4–18, 2007) and the second sampling during the wet season (August 13–26, 2007). Sites were sampled using a tick drag with a 1-m2 white flannel cloth along a 50-m straight course. Only 2 tick species were identified. In the dry season, 15 sites (0.16, 95 % CI = 0.09–0.24) were identified with R. microplus larvae (n = 606) and 9 sites (0.09, 95 % CI = 0.04–0.17) with Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens larvae (n = 779), whereas in the wet season 5 sites (0.05, 95 % CI = 0.02–0.12) were identified with R. microplus (n = 94), and 5 sites (0.05 %, 95 % CI = 0.02-0.12) with D. nitens (n = 275). Difference in the number of infested sites with R. microplus was significant (P = 0.031) between the 2 seasons. Factors associated with the presence of R. microplus larvae in PR were wind speed of >4.0 km/h (OR = 0.07, 95 % CI = 0.01–0.63), more than 25 % bushes and shrubs on the site (OR = 11, 95 % CI = 1.6–71), and presence of cattle on the site (OR = 26, 95 % CI = 3.4–188).

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Acknowledgments

Authors want to thank Graeme Cumming and Pete Teel for their help in the development of the GIS and field sampling methodologies used in this tick survey. In addition, authors would also like to thank the Department of Entomology at the University of Florida for providing the necessary materials and equipment to process tick larvae for identification, Dr. Lance Durden from Georgia Southern University for his help in the confirmation of these identifications, and Dr. Aurora Villarroel from Oregon State University for providing resourceful insights in the development of this manuscript. This material is based on research supported by United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (USDA)/CSREES) Grant No. 2005-34135-18020 in Tropical/Subtropical Agriculture Research, Fondo para el Fomento de la Industria Lechera de Puerto Rico, and the Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    José Urdaz-Rodríguez, Owen Rae, Arthur Donovan & Pedro Melendez

  2. Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa

    Geoffrey Fosgate

  3. Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    A. Rick Alleman

  4. Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Michael Binford

  5. High Quality Silage, Arecibo, PR, 00612, USA

    Alexis Zaragoza

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  1. José Urdaz-Rodríguez
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  2. Geoffrey Fosgate
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  3. A. Rick Alleman
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  4. Owen Rae
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  5. Arthur Donovan
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  6. Michael Binford
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  7. Alexis Zaragoza
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  8. Pedro Melendez
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Correspondence to José Urdaz-Rodríguez.

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Urdaz-Rodríguez, J., Fosgate, G., Alleman, A.R. et al. Association between ecological factors and the presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larvae in Puerto Rico. Exp Appl Acarol 58, 145–157 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9573-6

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