Dermacentor spp.

Dermacentor spp.
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Arachnida
Sub-class	Acari
Super-order	Parasitiformes
Order	Ixodida
Super-family	Ixodidea
Family	Ixodidae
Genus	Dermacentor
Species	Many

Introduction

D.reticulatus male - Rainer Altenkamp 2007, Wikimedia Commons

Dermacentor spp. of ticks can be identified by;

Wide palps
Rectangular base of capitulum
Eyes
Ornate
Posterior anal groove
Festoons on the posterior margin

There are two species found in the UK and Europe D.reticulatus and D.marginatus, the ornate sheep tick however this is absent from the UK. D.reticulatus is a three host tick found on meadows, pastures and forests in England and Wales. Adults will parasitise large mammals whilst larval and nymphal stages attack small mammals, insectivores and sometimes birds. The tick is known to transmit a number of disease in man and and veterinary species. D.reticulatus is responsible for transmitting Babesia canis in dogs, B.divergens and B.ovisin cattle as well as Q fever (C.burnetti), tularemia, Brucella, Anaplasma ovis and Rickettsia conorii the cause of Boutonneuse fever. In horse D.reticulatus is responsible for the transmission of Babesia caballi and B.equi.

Dermacentor spp. Learning Resources
Vetstream To reach the Vetstream content, please select	Canis, Felis, Lapis or Equis
Literature Search Search for recent publications via CAB Abstract (CABI log in required)	Dermacentor publications since 2000