Abstract
Background: Vector-borne diseases are increasingly important because they are emerging and re-emerging. Of the 867 tick species reported worldwide, 10% (86 species) have public health implications; 58 parasitize dogs, and 12 have been documented in Argentina. Tick-borne agents are increasingly relevant in the Cuyo region, with implications for both public health and domestic animal health. In Mendoza, the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex and Amblyomma tigrinum have been documented. Aim: This study aimed to determine whether one tick genus predominated over the other, compared with previous studies in the region. Methods: We collected ticks from dogs attending municipal vaccination campaigns and veterinary clinics in several departments of the Greater Mendoza area (Ciudad/Capital, Luján de Cuyo, Godoy Cruz, and Guaymallén). Specimens were preserved in 70% (v/v) ethanol in sealed containers until analysis. Identification was performed using a stereomicroscope and the taxonomic keys of Nava. Results: The highest number of ticks was obtained from Ciudad/Capital, followed by Luján de Cuyo, Godoy Cruz, and Guaymallén. A total of 439 specimens were collected and classified by genus, species, and sex. Of these, 94.46% (415 ticks) corresponded to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex, including 193 females (43.96%) and 222 males (50.5%). The remaining 5.48% (24 ticks) were identified as Amblyomma tigrinum, including 17 females (3.89%) and 7 males (1.59%). Discussion: These findings confirm the marked predominance of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex among ticks collected from dogs in the Greater Mendoza area.