Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. (1)

Question 1

What are the common names?

Answer 1

Blue tick

Cattle tick

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus: Cattle Fever Tick
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Tropical cattle tick

Question 2

What are the hosts?

Answer 2

Primarily Cattle

Livestock

Other animals

Humans

Question 3

How do you identify?

Answer 3

Up to 3 mm unfed

Short palps

Hexagonal basis capituli

Inornate scutum

No specific predilection site

Prominent dorsal ridges

Hypostome short

Question 4

Explain the life cycle

Answer 4

One host tick

Completed in 6 weeks

Gravid females lay eggs in the environment

Eggs hatch into six-legged larvae

Larvae remain on the host and become adults after two molts

Females drop off the host to lay eggs

Question 5

What is the predilection site?

Answer 5

Non-specific

Adults on ventral aspects of body

Immature in ears

Question 6

Describe the Pathogenesis

Answer 6

R. microplus and R. annulatus transmit:

 - Texas Cattle Fever/Bovine piroplasmosis (B. bigemina)
 - Gall sickness (Anaplasma marginale)

Question 7

How do you diagnose?

Answer 7

Identification of tick

Question 8

How do you treat and prevent?

Answer 8

Several Parasiticides effective

Difference of lactating dairy cattle

Cat dipping vat

Suspected ticks should be submitted to a regulatory veterinarian for positive ID

Permanent quarantine zone along Rio Grande River

Question 9

What is important about Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp.?

Answer 9

It is ZOONOTIC!