Ixodes affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) in dogs from rural localities of yucatán, mexico: Prevalence, abundance and associated factors

The present study describes the prevalence and abundance of, as well as factors associated with, Ixodes affinis infestation of dogs from two environments in two rural localities (Tixméhuac with a medium sub-deciduous forest and Opichén with patches of low deciduous forest, cultivated lands, and grasslands) of Yucatán, Mexico. The associated factors were obtained by an X² analysis and variables where P < 0.2 were subjected to a logistic regression. A total of 33 adult ticks from the genus Ixodes were collected from 144 dogs. The infestation prevalence was found to be 11.11% (16/144) for I. affinis. When considering the prevalence of I. affinis infestation per environment, Tixméhuac had a prevalence of 19.6% (11/56) and Opichén had a prevalence of 5.6% (5/88). The abundance of I. affinis in both environments averaged 2.1 (1–4) ticks/dog. The factors associated with infestations of I. affinis in dogs were the locality of Tixméhuac (OR = 3.70, 95% C.I. = 1.24–11.08, P = 0.001), which is surrounded by a medium sub-deciduous forest, and the use of dogs for hunting in these forested areas (OR = 7.56, 95% C.I. = 1.63–35.04, P = 0.001). This study is the first report of the prevalence and abundance of infestation with I. affinis in dogs in Mexico, which is associated with the access of dogs to adjacent forested areas.