Rhipicephalus sanguineus: observations on the parasitic stage on dogs in the Negev Desert of Israel.

Sixteen dogs were studied for infestation with R. sanguineus in Kibbutz Ze'elim in the northwestern part of the Negev Desert over a period of one year. The mean number of ticks per dog per month was 16.4. The majority of the ticks were adults: males (48.6%) and females (34.4%). The ears and abdomen of the dog were the predilection sites for the ticks. Male ticks were more abundant on the ears, whereas female ticks were more abundant on the ears and the abdomen. A strong correlation between tick numbers and the ambient temperatures was found. The mean percentage of dogs infested in the winter months was 16.6% and increased in the summer months to 34.4%. During winter, ticks were found more often on the ears and head of their hosts whereas in summer they were distributed mainly on the ears, head and abdomen. The male:female ratio was higher in winter (2.3:1) than in summer (1.1:1).