ABSTRACT

Ectoparasites in livestock and pets are associated with the transmission of diseases of veterinary and public health importance. The paucity of data on the ectoparasite diversity of pet and domestic animals in Puducherry is the basis for our study. Ectoparasites in animals brought to the veterinary dispensaries in Puducherry were retrieved and identified morphologically. Molecular confirmation of the ectoparasites was done by amplifying and sequencing the genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI), 16s rRNA and 18s rRNA. A total of 792 animals were screened and 2625 ectoparasites were retrieved. The most common ectoparasite retrieved was ticks (n = 2140) followed by fleas (n = 326) and lice (n = 180). Eight tick species belonging to two genera were collected: Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rh. simus, Rh. bursa, Rh. (Boophilus) annulatus, R. (Boophilus) microplus, Rh. haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis intermedia and Ha. bispinosa. Three sucking lice, Haematopinus quadripertusus, H. tuberculatus, Linognathus africanus, and two chewing lice, Heterodoxus spiniger and Trichodectes canis were found infesting the animals. Ctenocephalides felis felis was the only flea species observed to infest the animals. Common grazing areas and stray animals contributed to wide dispersal of the ectoparasites on different hosts. A longitudinal study might uncover the influence of season on ectoparasite prevalence and diversity in Puducherry.

摘要

家畜和宠物中的体外寄生虫与对兽医和公共卫生具有重要意义的疾病的传播有关。本地治里宠物和家畜体外寄生虫多样性数据的缺乏是我们研究的基础。被带到本地治里兽医药房的动物体内的体外寄生虫被回收并进行形态学鉴定。通过对细胞色素氧化酶 I ( COI)、16s rRNA和18s rRNA基因进行扩增和测序，对外寄生虫进行分子确认。共筛选了 792 只动物，回收了 2625 只体外寄生虫。最常见的体外寄生虫是蜱（n = 2140），其次是跳蚤（n = 326）和虱子（n = 180）。收集了属于两个属的八种蜱虫：Rhipicephalus sanguineus，Rh。西姆斯，Rh。伯萨，Rh。(Boophilus) annulatus，R. (Boophilus) microplus，Rh。Haemaphysaloides、Haemaphysalis intermedia和Ha。双棘豆。发现三只吸食虱子Haematopinus quadripertusus、H.tuberculatus、Linognathus Africanus和两只咀嚼虱子Heterodoxus spiniger和Trichodectes canis感染动物。Ctenocephalides felis felis是唯一观察到感染动物的跳蚤物种。常见的放牧区和流浪动物有助于外寄生虫在不同宿主上的广泛传播。一项纵向研究可能会揭示季节对本地治里外寄生虫流行率和多样性的影响。