**2. Materials and methods**

*Pests, Weeds and Diseases in Agricultural Crop and Animal Husbandry Production*

during the late Paleozoic era [5].

[13–15]. Ticks belong to Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Subclass: Acari Order: Parasitiformes Suborder: Ixodida

Ixodidae).

obvious.

**1.1 Importance of tick identification in dogs**

*Rhipicephalus sanguineus* is one of the most studied ticks.

from natural enemies and are tenacious blood suckers.

Anaplasmosis (*Anaplasma* sp.), Hepatozoonosis (*Hepatozoon* sp.).

organism is usually present in very low concentrations and hence cannot be used for diagnosis of the disease [10]. The evolutionary thesis suggests that both ixodid and argasid ticks have been in existence since the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic eras [12]. Antecedent forms evolved as obligate ectoparasites of smooth-skinned reptiles

Ticks are the most important ectoparasites in tropical and sub-tropical areas. They are also responsible for severe economic losses either through direct effects of blood sucking or indirectly as vectors of pathogens and toxins. Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are blood feeding ectoparasites acts as vectors of human diseases next to mosquitoes, but comparatively more important as vectors of animal diseases

Ixodida contains three families: Argasidae (soft ticks having dorsum without chitin), Ixodidae (hard ticks having dorsum totally or partially covered with chitin) and Nuttalliellidae (an ill known monotypic family represented by

Nuttalliella namaqua), among which Argasidae and Ixodidae are more important. In turn, according to morphological characters, the family Ixodidae is subdivided into the Prostriata group (genus Ixodes) and Metastriata group (all other genera in

Traditionally, classifications and phylogenetics inferences for Ixodida were based on morphological, biological and ecological characteristics [16–21]. Tick classification largely based on morphological characteristics, and the value given to differences and similarities among groups of ticks, resulting in non-homogeneous tick arrangements. The molecular taxonomy associated with conventional morphological cataloging will be useful to obtain a more homogeneous and independent criterion for classification, although in the short term this may not be

Many ticks are responsible for causing various diseases. Among which the tick *Rhipicephalus sanguineus* (brown dog tick) plays vital role because it causes ehrlichiosis in dogs which is life threatening disease in dogs which causes symptoms similar to that of dengue in human beings. Reduction in platelet count and multi-organ failure are the major detrimental things in case of dogs in this specific ehrlichiosis disease. That is why identification of ticks is very important to rule out the disease and early identification will help in saving the life of the animal by giving appropriate treatment. Presence of ticks itself will help in identifying subacute cases so that life loss can be avoided. Due to its veterinary and public health relevance,

Ticks able to survive in adverse conditions too as they have heavy protective, chitinous covering and can withstand long periods of starvation and also have wide host range. They can deposit large number of eggs at a time and are relatively free

Medical and veterinary importance of ticks based on their capability of disease transmission. The important diseases transmitted by ticks are Lyme borreliosis (*Borrelia burgdorferi*), *Canine babesiosis* (*babesia* sp.), Ehrlichiosis (*Ehrlichia* sp.),

**250**

The dogs presented to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Campus that were diagnosed for ehrlichiosis by nPCR were utilized for the study. Around 3 or 4 ticks collected from different sites of the affected dogs were fixed in a 70% ethanol solution. It was further processed and was identified as per the morphology described by [14]

**Figure 1.** Rhipicephalus sanguineus *ticks.*

using stereomicroscope and magnifying lens. The stereomicroscope was used at a low magnification of 10× and magnifying lens was used at 40× magnification for identification of specific morphological features.

### **2.1 Collection of ticks**

Unengorged/engorged male and female ticks were collected from dogs either by gently plucking from the body of the dog by hand manipulation or with the help of blunt pointed forceps without damaging their mouth parts. The specimen collected in a plastic container with ventilated cap was labeled appropriately as per host and sites of attachment. Label must contain information about date and place of collection, host, age and site of collection. These samples were transported to the laboratory for further studies.

### **2.2 Tick identification**

These ticks were identified using standard keys [22, 23].

The ticks in the present study were identified as *R. sanguineus* (**Figure 1**). Sen and Fletcher [24] reported that *R. sanguineus* was the only tick that infested dogs in India. Bashir et al. [25] from Pakistan reported 96.8% of the ticks were identified as *R. sanguineus* and the remaining identified as *Dermacentor* and *Haemaphysalis* species. In the present study, all the ticks were identified as *R. sanguineus* and concurred with the findings of [24]. Krogt [26] demonstrated that *R. sanguineus* ticks were able to transmit *E. canis* from a naturally infected dog to an uninfected dog via the bite of the infected tick. Filippova [27] from Japan reported that *E. canis* developed in the salivary glands of *R. sanguineus.* Though, *R. sanguineus* seems to be the vector for *E. canis* in Puducherry, definite studies regarding tick transmission of ehrlichiosis caused by *E. canis* in India is lacking. Hence, transmission studies needs to be undertaken to determine its vector potentiality.

#### **2.3 Tick control measures**

Economic losses can be reduced by adopting tick control measures like chemical acaricides [7]. The major reason to control ticks includes disease transmission, tick paralysis or toxicosis by *Rhipicephalus* sp. [7] and physical damage caused by ticks. Keeping animals away from tick-prone areas is the most effective way to control exposure.
