Presence of blood-sucking insects and other arthropods affecting dogs in the tropics

The objective of this study was to determine the abundance of hematophagous arthropods that feed on dogs and other arthropods that come into contact during the year in a subtropical rural area, a transition zone and an urban area of Yucatan, Mexico, using an alternative collection method based on treatment of dogs with fipronil-permethrin as live baitThree sites were selected for monitoring and capturing hematophagous arthropods and other arthropods that come into contact with dogs in different ecological zones: Merida City (19º30´ and 21º35´ latitude N and 87º0´ 90º24´ longitude O), a transition zone between city and rural (CCBA-UADY) in Xmatkuil and an area of low deciduous forest in San José Tzal (20º48´ latitude N and 89º30´ longitude O)Treatment of dogs and capture of arthropods. Twenty-four hours pre-exposure, dogs were treated with a fipronil-permethrin combination (Effitix, Virbac®) placed as a spot-on according to the product instructions. The dogs were placed in cages in an area near rock piles and trees. During the night, each dog had a canvas roof at a height of 50 cm and was in darkness. In each cage, the dogs had a cloth bed, and a wide white tarp was placed on the floor, covering the entire base of the cage. The insects found were collected at dawn and in the afternoon and placed in plastic containers with alcohol until they were revised. The capture of arthropods was carried out during the morning (sunrise) and the afternoon (sunset). Each site was monitored for three consecutive days each month for one year to cover all 4 seasons. The collected arthropods were identified morphologically according to taxonomic keys. The Arthropods-dogs.xls database contains information on non-hematophagous arthropods found on dogs.The Hematophagous arthropods in dogs.xls database contains information on hematophagous arthropods found on dogs.