Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) species complex: morphometric and ultrastructural analyses

Although some studies have already been performed on Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) populations, there is still much disarray around its taxonomic classification. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which is also known as " (brown dog tick) is a three-host tick that parasitizes many vertebrates, including occasional human hosts. It presents a worldwide distribution and is a vector of zoonosis with acknowledged public health importance. In Western Europe, R. turanicus (Pomerantsev) share many phenotypic features and is genetically closely related to R. sanguineus. Additionally, as these species are sympatric, they can be easily misidentified. However, by means of a thorough morphological traits analysis, it is possible to distinguish both species, especially resorting to scanning electron microscopy. This study was conducted using stereoscopic and SEM analyses, both associated with morphometric analysis, in order to help clarify the taxonomic status of this species complex. For that purpose, specimens resembling R. sanguineus were collected from dogs of the Midwestern Iberian Peninsula. Identification was performed based on taxonomical key characteristics. The obtained results allowed the authors to agree that a great morphological variability is found within R. sanguineus-like Iberian populations. Nevertheless, R. turanicus is easily identified by morphologic analysis, especially using reference specimens, and its presence in Portugal is suggested.