RESUMOOs carrapatos encontrados infestando anfíbios e répteis no Estado de Pernambuco são revisados com base na literatura atual e em novas coletas realizadas recentemente pelos autores. Até o momento, três espécies de carrapatos foram encontradas sobre anfíbios e répteis em Pernambuco. Amblyomma fuscum parece estar exclusivamente associado à Boa constrictor, seu hospedeiro-tipo. Amblyomma rotundatum tem uma especificidade parasitária relativamente baixa, sendo encontrado em sapos, serpentes e iguana. Amblyomma dissimile já foi encontrado sobre um lagarto e também sobre pequenos mamíferos (isto é, roedores e marsupiais). Novas associações carrapato-hospedeiro e novos registros de localidades são apresentados. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Amblyomma, animais de sangue frio, associações parasito-hospedeiro.
INTRODUCTIONTicks (Acari: Ixodida) are ectoparasites of great medical and veterinary significance; that is, they can cause severe losses to livestock industry and transmit many pathogens to both humans and domestic animals. Ticks are widely distributed in the world and parasitize an enormous variety of hosts, infesting all classes of vertebrates, from small amphibians and reptiles to large mammals (JONGEJAN; UILENBERG, 2004;ONOFRIO et al., 2006;DANTAS-TORRES;FIGUEREDO;NAVA et al., 2007).The Brazilian tick fauna is currently known to consist of approximately 60 valid species. Most species are in the genus Amblyomma, to which all ticks associated with ectotherms ('coldblooded animals') belong to (ARAGÃO, 1936;ARAGÃO; FON-SECA, 1961;EVANS et al., 2000;GUIMARÃES et al., 2001;TEIXEIRA et al., 2003;ONOFRIO et al., 2006).A limited amount of information about the taxonomy and ecology of ticks infesting ectotherms in the Northeastern region of Brazil is currently available. In the present article, ticks parasitizing amphibians and reptiles in the state of Pernambuco are reviewed based on recent collections of ticks from different hosts and localities, as well as based on a comprehensive review of relevant literature.
MATERIAL AND METHODSThe present study is based on recent collections of ticks, from different hosts and localities (Igarassu, 07º50'03" S, 34º54'23" W; Recife, 08º03'14" S, 34º52'52" W; São Lourenço da Mata, 08º00'08" S, 35º01'06" W) in Pernambuco, Amblyomma fuscum appears to be exclusively associated with Boa constrictor, its type host. Amblyomma rotundatum has a relatively low host-specificity, being found on toads, snakes, and iguana. Amblyomma dissimile has been found on a lizard and also small mammals (i.e., rodents and marsupials). New tickhost associations and locality records are given.
TICKS INFESTING AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN PERNAMBUCO
