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High infestation by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in a mare: a rare case report

Comparative Clinical Pathology volume 22, pages 1263–1265 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a natural parasite of cattle, with rare reports of parasitism in horses. Therefore, the aim of this study is to report a rare case of high infestation by R. (B.) microplus in a mare in the town of Riqueza, state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. In December 2012, in a farm with 12 horses in its herd, a single mare was highly infected, showing clinical signs such as pale to pink mucous membranes and bleeding in the neck, the main place in her body where the ticks were fixed. The horse was treated through the use of a spray with a drug association of cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and citronellal (Colosso®), showing temporary effectiveness, since 15 days posttreatment immature forms (larvae and nymphs) of ticks were again found. Therefore, this mare has high susceptibility to parasitism by R. (B.) microplus, differently from the other horses at the same farm that were not parasitized by this mite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Andréia Volpato, Marcelo Agostini & Aleksandro Schafer da Silva

  2. Department of Small Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Alexandre Alberto Tonin

  3. Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Educação Superior do Oeste (UDESC), Prédio Zootecnia, Bairro Santo Antonio, Chapecó, 89815-630, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Aleksandro Schafer da Silva

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  1. Andréia Volpato
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  2. Marcelo Agostini
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  3. Alexandre Alberto Tonin
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  4. Aleksandro Schafer da Silva
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Correspondence to Aleksandro Schafer da Silva.

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Volpato, A., Agostini, M., Tonin, A.A. et al. High infestation by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in a mare: a rare case report. Comp Clin Pathol 22, 1263–1265 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1787-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1787-4

Keyword

  • Equine
  • Parasitism
  • Tick
  • Susceptibility
  • Clinical signs