Identification of a non-host semiochemical from miniature pinscher, Canis lupus familiaris, that repels Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae)

• Published in: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
• Main Authors: Zeringota, V., Pereira-Junior, R., Sarria, A. L. F., Henrique, A., Birkett, M. A., Borges, L.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier Gmbh, Urban & Fischer Verlag 2020
• Subjects: Brown-dog-tick; Miniature-pinscher; 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one; Allomone; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/9812y/identification-of-a-non-host-semiochemical-from-miniature-pinscher-canis-lupus-familiaris-that-repels-rhipicephalus-sanguineus-sensu-lato-acari-ixodidae; https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/download/6a34f7edc375fc16b20facb4c62a35f7d406b5703d0678888c6ed422edf4934d/4770560/Identification%20of%20a%20non-host%20semiochemical%20from%20miniature%20pinscher%20Canis%20lupus%20familiaris%20that%20repels%20Rhipicephalus%20sanguineus%20sensu%20lato%20%28Acari_%20Ixodidae%29.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101582

It is already known that the beagle breed of domestic dogs produces semiochemicals capable of repelling the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.). With a view to discovering new non-host semiochemicals as tick repellents, we compared the semiochemicals produced by a putative tick-resistant breed of dog, miniature pinscher, with known tick-resistant (beagle) and tick-susceptible (English cocker spaniel) breeds. Two non-host compounds produced by beagles, i.e. 2-hexanone and benzaldehyde, were shown to be present in volatile samples collected from all three breeds. Furthermore, two compounds, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, were found in higher amounts in volatile samples collected from miniature pinscher dogs. The mean amounts of benzaldehyde, 2- hexanone and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were similar for beagles and miniature pinschers and higher than the means observed for cocker spaniels, whereas the mean amount of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one produced by miniature pinschers was significantly higher than for the other breeds of dogs. In Petri-dish assays with adult R. sanguineus, 6-methyl-5- hepten-2-one was repellent for all observation periods evaluated for the two highest concentrations (0.100 and 0.200 mg.cm-2). Our results support our hypothesis that miniature pinschers are a tick-resistant dog breed and agree with previous observations of miniature pinschers being the breed least parasitized by ticks. Furthermore, the non-host semiochemical 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one has potential to be developed for use as a repellent for the protection of susceptible dogs from R. sanguineus s.l. ticks.