Tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) species and life stages collected from Arkansas wild pigs

Authors

  • Haylee K Campbell University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
  • Kelly M. Loftin University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;
  • Allen L. Szalanski University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;
  • Donald C Steinkraus University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;
  • Elizabeth E Smith University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;

Abstract

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa L.; Artiodactyla: Suidae) are found in every Arkansas county and are spreading throughout the southeastern USA. This is a public and animal health concern because wild pigs occupy the same geographical areas as humans and livestock, and can harbor over 45 animal pathogens and parasites. Little research has been conducted on the tick species parasitizing Arkansas wild pigs. Tick collections for this study were taken from feral S. scrofa trapped for control purposes by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, and University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service personnel. Between Feb 2019 and Jan 2020, over 3,110 ticks were collected from 220 hogs from 11 Arkansas counties. Four tick species (Acarina: Ixodidae) were collected: Amblyomma americanum (L.) (95.4%; n = 2,966), Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (2.4%; n = 76), Amblyomma maculatum (Koch) (0.6%; n = 18), and Ixodes scapularis (L.) (0.3%; n = 9). Amblyomma americanum was collected from Jan to Nov 2019, and was the only species found in immature life stages. Dermacentor variabilis was collected from Apr 2019 to Oct 2019. Amblyomma maculatum was collected at 1 site in May 2019, and I. scapularis was collected at 1 site in Nov 2019.

Resumen

Se encuentran los cerdos salvajes (Sus scrofa L.; Artiodactyla: Suidae) en todos los condados de Arkansas y se están extendiendo por todo el sureste de los Estados Unidos. Este es un problema de salud pública y animal porque los cerdos salvajes ocupan las mismas áreas geográficas que los humanos y el ganado, y pueden albergar más de 45 patógenos y parásitos de animales. Se han realizado pocas investigaciones sobre las especies de garrapatas que parasitan a los cerdos salvajes de Arkansas. Las colecciones de garrapatas para este estudio fueron tomadas de S. scrofa salvajes atrapadas con fines de control por parte de la Comisión de Pesca y Caza de Arkansas, los Servicios de Vida Silvestre del USDA/APHIS y el personal del Servicio de Extensión Cooperativa de la Universidad de Arkansas. Más de 3.110 garrapatas de 220 cerdos de 11 condados de Arkansas fueron recolectadas entre febrero del 2019 y enero del 2020. Se recolectaron cuatro especies de garrapatas (Acarina: Ixodidae): Amblyomma americanum (L.) (95,4 %; n = 2.966), Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (2,4 %; n = 76), Amblyomma maculatum (Koch) (0,6 %; n = 18), e Ixodes scapularis (L.) (0,3%; n = 9). Se recolectó A. americanum desde enero a noviembre del 2019 y fue la única especie que se encontró los estadios inmaduros. Se recolectó A. maculatum en sitio 1 en mayo del 2019 e I. scapularis se recolectó en sitio 1 en noviembre del 2019.

Key Words: Amblyomma; Dermacentor; Ixodes; Sus scrofa

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Author Biographies

Haylee K Campbell, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Kelly M. Loftin, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Allen L. Szalanski, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology 

Donald C Steinkraus, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology 

Elizabeth E Smith, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA;

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Cooperative Extension Service

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Published

2022-10-07

Issue

Vol. 105, No. 3 (September 2022)

Section

Research Papers

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