VPA 221: Veterinary Entomology and Acarology (1+1)

MORPHOLOGY - HARD TICKS

Boophilus microplus - ONE HOST TICK (TROPICAL CATTLE TICK) (View image...)

• Short rostrum (brevirostrate)
• A pair of eyes present -at the margin between first and second coxae in males and at the margin of the scutum in the region between 1^st and 2^nd coxae in females
• 1^st coxa has hump on dorsal border and is notched ventrally
• Adanal and accessory adanal plates are present in males and these plates are having median posterior spine  
• Additionally a caudal process is present in males 
• Festoons are absent and the anal groove is faint
• Acts as a vector for Babesia bigemina in cattle

Boophilus annulatus - ONE HOST TICK

• Similar to B. microplus
• In males, the caudal process is absent
• Acts as vector for Babesia bigemina in cattle

Haemaphysalis bispinosa - THREE HOST TICK (View image...)

• Short rostrum
• Eyes : Absent
• The second article of the pedipalp projects laterally
• First coxa has pointed spine.
• Festoons : Present
• Ventral plates in males : Absent
• Acts as vector of Babesia gibsoni in dogs,  Babesia and Theileria of sheep

Hyalomma marginatum, H.anatolicum - TWO HOST TICK (BONT LEGGED TICK)

• Long rostrum  (longirostrate) (View image...)
• Eyes and festoons : Present.
• First coxa is deeply bifid. (View image...)
• Joints of limbs have white bands (View image...)
• Males have anal, adanal and subanal plates (View image...)
• Acts as vector for Babesia equi, Theileria annulata, Theileria mutans

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R.haemaphysaloides - THREE HOST TICK (BROWN DOG TICK, KENNEL TICK)

• Brevirostrate
• Basis capitulum is hexagonal (View image...)
• Eyes and festoons : Present
• First coxa bifid (View image...)
• Male ticks show presence of adanal plates - with straight median border (View image...)
• Acts as vector of Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni, Hepatozoon canis and  Ehrlichia canis

Dermacentor variabils - THREE HOST TICK

• Ornate
• Eyes present
• Brevirostrate
• First coxa bifid
• Coxa IV in male largest
• In males plates absent
• Festoons present
• Transmit : Rocky mountain spotted fever, Q fever, tularemia, causes tick paralysis

Ixodes ricinus (CASTOR BEAN TICK)

• Anal groove surrounding anus anteriorly - prostriata
• Longirostrate
• Inornate
• Eyes absent
• Festoons absent
• Male with pregenital, median, anal, epimeral and adanal shields
• Transmits : Babesia divergens

Amblyomma maculatum

• Ornate
• Eyes present
• Longirostrate
• Second article of pedipalp longer than 1 and 2 Festoons present Males without ventral plates
• Transmits : A. hebraeum transmits heart water disease in cattle caused by Cowdria ruminatium