Ticks of the genus <em>Rhipicephalus Koch</em>, 1844 in Senegal: Review host associations, chorology, and associated human and animal pathogens

Abstract

Ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Senegal were reviewed. The data presented originate from a tick collection maintained at IRD’s Laboratory of Medical Entomology since 1967 and continuously enriched with samples obtained from different vertebrate hosts captured during various projects conducted in Senegal from 1987 to 2007. Fifteen Rhipicephalus tick species were collected and characterized, resulting in 1127 referenced collections. Three species were of the Boophilus subgenus: Rhipicephalus (Bo.) annulatus, Rh. (Bo.) decoloratus and Rh. (Bo.) geigyi. The twelve others were Rh. boueti, Rh. cuspidatus, Rh. evertsi, Rh. guilhoni, Rh. lunulatus, Rh. muhsamae, Rh. sanguineus, Rh. senegalensis, Rh. sulcatus, Rh. tricuspis, Rh. turanicus and Rh. ziemanni. Although there were recent indications that Rh. turanicus should have been considered as part of the Rh. sanguineus s.l. complex, data regarding these two ticks were presented separately. The collection comprised 14,165 tick specimens at different developmental stages. Data concerning their host relationships as well as distribution and seasonal dynamics were also presented. Vertebrate hosts were identified and listed in the different ecological zones of Senegal. The role of the ticks as potential vectors of pathogens has been reviewed. Climate change, causing variations in rainfall and temperature, will impact tick distribution and dynamics. The situation supports the necessity of this inventory of tick populations for (re)emerging tick-borne diseases surveillance and monitoring.

Keywords

• Rhipicephalus
• hosts
• vectors
• pathogens
• geographical distribution
• environment