Controle de Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) no canil da Escola de Veterinária da UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Practices employed by veterinary practitioners for controlling canine gastrointestinal helminths and ectoparasites

The present study attempted to evaluate the practical experience and methods employed by Brazilian veterinary practitioners for control of parasites. Twenty-one questions were asked of 403 veterinary practitioners based in different climatic zones with reference to parasite epidemiology from the country. Administration of a combination of drugs at three-month intervals was the most common regime recommended for prophylaxis against gastrointestinal helminths, with a single treatment repeated after 15 days. Routine prophylaxis against dog ectoparasites was recommended by 82.4% veterinary practitioners, and 46.6% changed the drug compound used. Monthly prophylaxic treatments for ectoparasites, using systemic, topical and/or collar-impregnated drugs, was recommended by 21.5% veterinary practitioners. Side-effects of ectoparasiticide-impregnated collars were suspected by 58% of the veterinary practitioners. Isoxazolines were the most frequently used chemical group to treat ectoparasites in dogs. Poor efficacy of fipronil in controlling ticks was suspected by 79.5% of the veterinary practitioners. The isoxazolines and combination of anthelmintic compounds are the most common drugs to prevent or treat ectoparasites and gastrointestinal nematodes, respectively. The suspect of the inefficacy of antiparasitic drugs is shared among the veterinary practitioners from part of Brazil. Guidelines are needed, specifically for the control of gastrointestinal helminths and ectoparasites in Brazilian dogs.

Using plastic tips in artificial feeding of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) females

This study evaluated the influence of the initial weight, feeding period and temperature on weight gain and biological parameters of the non-parasitic phase of partially engorged Rhipicephalus sanguineus females that were artificially fed using plastic tips as feeding devices. The device did not alter the oviposition of the females or any other parameters evaluated. Furthermore, it was observed that the temperature of the feeding the group did not affect the weight gain and biology of ticks. This device has great potential for the development of studies on bioagent transmission because it provides higher intake of blood by ixodid ticks.

Cálculo da CI50 (concentração inibitória média) e CL50 (concentração letal média) do óleo da semente de andiroba (Carapa guianensis, Aubl.) sobre Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887), Anocentor nitens (Neumann, 1897) e Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Determinou-se a CI50 (concentração inibitória média) e a CL50 (concentração letal média) do óleo da semente de andiroba (Carapa guianensis, Aubl), respectivamente, sobre a ovipostura e larvas não alimentadas de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Anocentor nitens e Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Para o tratamento das fêmeas utilizaram-se cinco diluições do óleo (20%, 10%, 5%, 2,5% e 1,25%), e um controle negativo com água destilada, com três repetições de 10 fêmeas ingurgitadas para cada diluição por tratamento. Para as larvas, foram preparadas seis diluições do óleo (20%, 10%, 5%, 2,5%, 1,25 e 0,75%), utilizando-se água destilada e tween 80 como dispersante, e um grupo controle com água destilada e outro com tween 80 e água destilada. Aproximadamente 100 larvas de 14 a 21 dias de idade foram utilizadas para cada diluição no teste de imersão. Foram obtidas CI50 de 4,332; 4,850; 4,903, e uma CL50 de 5,228; 5,362 e 5,698, respectivamente, para fêmeas e larvas de R. (B.) microplus, A. nitens e R. sanguineus. A menor concentração em que se observou eficácia máxima do óleo da semente de C. guianensis foi de 10%. Essa espécie possui significativo potencial no controle dos carrapatos avaliados, interferindo na sua reprodução, podendo ser no futuro uma alternativa aos carrapaticidas normalmente utilizados, após estudos mais detalhados.