Hosts of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Northern Mississippi, USA1

Abstract

A total of 741 mammals representing 15 species were examined for brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, infestations from February 1976 through July 1977 in 3 localities in Marshall County, Mississippi. Of 8641 R. sanguineus removed from these animals, 30.3%, 28.9% and 40.8% were larvae, nymphs and adults, respectively. This tick infested 61.5%, 34.6% and 1.3% of the domestic, hunting and stray dogs, respectively. Of 14 noncanine species examined, only Hispid Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus) (1.3%) and House Mice (Mus musculus) (1.3%) were infested by R. sanguineus.