Seasonal variation in the effect of climate on the biology of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in southern Europe

Objective. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widespread tick in the world and a vector of many pathogens infecting dogs and humans. To date, there have been no investigations on the biology of R. sanguineus under natural Mediterranean climatic conditions. Methods. The biology of R. sanguineus was studied under laboratory and natural climatic conditions in southern Italy. Several biological parameters were compared in different seasons, and their correlation with climatic data was assessed. Results. The life cycle of R. sanguineus lasted for a mean of 101.4 and 116.2 days under laboratory and environmental conditions respectively. Reproductive parameters of wild-collected females kept in the environment in May were significantly different from first-generation females maintained in September-October, and the correlation between reproductive parameters and climate data varied according to season. Conclusion. These results indicate that the Mediterranean climate affects the biology of R. sanguineus, which compensates its losses during the initial phases of its cycle in spring with high feeding and moulting rates of larvae and nymphs during summer as well as with high egg production during autumn. These results advance our knowledge of the biology of R. sanguineus and will be useful for the understanding of the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne diseases that this tick transmits.