Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with small terrestrial mammals in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

From June 2005 to November 2010, 43 small mammals encompassing 6 species of Didelphimorphia, 8 species of Rodentia, and 1 species of Lagomorpha were found parasitized by ticks in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Nine tick species, in total 186 specimens, were identified as follows: Amblyomma cajennense (larvae and nymphs) on opossums and rodents; Amblyomma ovale (nymphs) on rodents; Amblyomma parvum (nymphs) on rodents; Amblyomma coelebs (nymphs) on opossums; Amblyomma dubitatum (nymph) on opossums; Ixodes amarali (females, nymphs, and larvae) on opossums and rodents; Ixodes loricatus (male, females, nymph) on opossums; Ixodes schulzei (female) on rodents; and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (female) on rabbits. Most of the tick-host associations found in the present study have never been 123Exp Appl Acarol (2012) 58:159-166 DOI 10.1007 recorded in the literature; those include three new host records for I. amarali, four for A. cajennense, one for A. dubitatum, two for A. ovale, and one for A. coelebs. In addition, we provide the first record of A. coelebs in the state of Minas Gerais.

Ticks infesting wild small rodents in three areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Previous studies indicated that immature A. ovale parasitize mainly rodents of the family Cricetidae (SZABÓ et al, 2013;SPoNCHIADo et al, 2015) and echimyidae (SARAIVA et al, 2012), whereas the adult stage parasitizes chiefly wild carnivores and domestic dogs (GUGLIeLMoNe et al, 2003). In this study, immature A. ovale were reported on four species of rodents, which includes the first records for O. flavescens, O. nigripes and S. agouya.…”

“…Although A. sculptum (formerly known as Amblyomma cajennense) is widely distributed in southeastern Brazil (NAVA et al, 2014), this tick species has a preference for medium to largesized mammals (BARRoS-BATTeSTI et al, 2006) and is rarely found on Cricetidae rodents, such as Cerradomys subflavus and O. nigripes in Minas ----------------------Number of infested animals / Number of examined animals (Prevalence); Mean intensity * -- Gerais (SARAIVA et al, 2012) and Calomys callosus and Rhipidomys macrurus in Mato Grosso do Sul (SPoNCHIADo et al, 2015). The present reports of I. schulzei on two species of Oligoryzomys are unprecedented for this tick.…”

“…The present reports of I. schulzei on two species of Oligoryzomys are unprecedented for this tick. Although all parasitic stages of I. schulzei are associated with Cricetidae rodents, the vast majority of records have been on a single species, N. squamipes (LABRUNA et al, 2003;SARAIVA et al, 2012). There are occasional records on A. montensis and Euryoryzomys russatus in the state of Paraná (oNoFRIo et al, 2013).…”

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) as ectoparasites of Brazilian wild birds and their association with rickettsial diseases

“…Amblyomma coelebs Neumann, 1899 is established in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions MARTINS et al, 2011;MARTINS et al, 2014a;SPONCHIADO et al, 2015;WITTER et al, 2016), Didelphimorphia (LABRUNA et al, 2005a;SARAIVA et al, 2012;SPONCHIADO et al, 2015;WITTER et al, 2016), Cingulata (MARTINS et al, 2014a), Artiodactyla (LABRUNA et al, 2005a, Carnivora (LABRUNA et al, 2002a;2005b;MARTINS et al, 2011;WITTER et al, 2016) and on humans (LABRUNA et al, 2005a;GARCIA et al, 2015). Although few records of immature A.…”

Amblyomma parvum Aragão, 1908 (Acari: Ixodidae): Phylogeography and systematic considerations

“…With respect to host range, adult A. parvum commonly parasitizes a variety of medium to large-sized domestic and wild animals, including humans (Jones et al, 1972;Guglielmone et al, 1991;Nava et al, 2006;2008b), while the immature stages are commonly collected from rodents, in particular members of the Caviidae and Echimyidae families (Labruna et al, 2005;Nava, 2006;2008b;Saraiva et al, 2012).…”