Nation-wide surveillance of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on dogs and cats in Singapore

Abstract

Companion animals are major reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and pathogens. Among these, ticks and tick-borne pathogens are of particular concern. Efforts to study the zoonotic risks associated with companion animals in Singapore have been hampered by a poor understanding of the ticks of local dogs and cats. To address this knowledge gap, ticks from companion animals were collected as part of Singapore's first nation-wide tick surveillance program beginning in 2018. Under the program, a total of 362 ticks were collected from dogs and one cat. These represented three tick genera and five species: Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis papuana, Rhipicephalus linnaei, and Dermacentor auratus. The most dominant species within companion animal-tick communities in Singapore were H. bispinosa and R. linnaei. The species diversity and health risks associated with companion animal ticks in Singapore are discussed.