Objective: To investigate the ticks which parasitize on the bodies of dogs in Shanghai.
Methods: The tick samples were collected from the dogs in 18 districts and counties of Shanghai from March to December in 2011, and the ticks were identified for the species through the morphological analysis by the dissecting microscope in laboratory.
Results: Totally 1 950 dogs were investigated for ticks parasitizing on the bodies of districts including Jiading, Minhang, Pudong, Songjiang, Huangpu and Jinshan. These ticks were belong to 2 species of 2 genera by morphological analysis in laboratory. Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis longicornis were the ticks parasitizing on the bodies of pet dogs. R. sanguineus was the main ticks parasitizing on the bodies of police dogs and laboratory dogs.
Conclusion: R. sanguineus is the domain tick parasitizing on dogs in Shanghai, and H. longicornis is a newly found hard tick species parasitizing on dogs in Shanghai. We should strengthen the prevention and control of ticks.