Ticks collected on birds in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The present study reports a collection of Amblyomma spp. ticks in birds from several areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 568 tick specimens (404 larvae, 164 nymphs) were collected from 261 bird specimens. From these ticks, 204 (36%) specimens (94 larvae, 110 nymphs) were reared to the adult stage, being identified as Amblyomma longirostre (94 larvae, 90 nymphs), Amblyomma calcaratum (13 nymphs), Amblyomma nodosum (2 nymphs), and Amblyomma cajennense (5 nymphs). Additionally, 39 larvae reared to the nymphal stage and 8 nymphs that died before reaching the adult stage were identified as A. longirostre according to peculiar characters inherent to the nymphal stage of this species: scutum elongate, and hypostome pointed. The remaining 271 larvae and 46 nymphs were identified as Amblyomma sp. Ticks were collected from 51 species of birds distributed in 22 bird families and 6 orders. The order Passeriformes constituted the vast majority of the records, comprising 253 (97%) out of the 261 infested birds. Subadults of A. longirostre were identified from 35 species of Passeriformes, comprising 11 families (Cardinalidae, Dendrocolaptidae, Fringillidae, Furnariidae, Parulidae, Pipridae, Thamnophilidae, Thraupidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae, and Vireonidae), and from 1 species of a non-passerine bird, a puffbird (Bucconidae). Subadults of A. calcaratum were identified from 5 species of Passeriformes, comprising 5 families (Cardinalinae, Conopophagidae, Pipridae, Thamnophilidae and Turdidae). Subadults of A. nodosum were identified from 2 species of Passeriformes, comprising two bird families (Thamnophilidae and Pipridae). Subadults of A. cajennense were identified from 2 species of non-passerine birds, belonging to 2 different orders (Ciconiiformes: Threskiornithidae, and Gruiformes: Cariamidae). Birds were usually infested by few ticks (mean infestation of 2.2 ticks per bird; range: 1-16). Currently, 82 bird species are known to be infested by immature stages of A. longirostre, with the vast majority [74 (90%)] being Passeriformes. Our results showed that Passeriformes seems to be primary hosts for subadult stages of A. longirostre, A. calcaratum, and A. nodosum. However, arboreal passerine birds seem to be the most important hosts for A. longirostre whereas ground-feeding passerine birds seem to be the most important for both A. calcaratum and A. nodosum. In contrast, the parasitism of birds by subadults of A. cajennense has been restricted to non-passerine birds.

Ticks on birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Rojas et al (1999) also reported that A. cajennense was the dominant ixodid in captures performed in special protection areas in the cerrado (savanna-like terrain). However, comparisons between the results reported in their study and the results from the present study should be made carefully, since not only do the two areas present completely different phytophysiognomies, but also the methodology used by those authors for identifying ticks needs to be reviewed (LABRUNA et al, 2007). Other studies carried out in the cerrado have also reported low prevalence of immature stages of A. cajennense and greater occurrence of Amblyomma longirostre and Amblyomma nodosum (TOLESANO-PASCOLI et al, 2010).…”

“…Both of these stages are commonly found infesting birds (BARROS-BATTESTI et al, 2006). The absence of adult ticks infesting birds was also mentioned by Labruna et al (2007) and Ogrzewalska et al (2009) after studying birds in Atlantic Forest areas in the state of São Paulo.…”

“…Many bird species have been reported to be their hosts, not only during the larval and nymph stages (BARROS-BATTESTI et al 2006) Few published papers have addressed parasitism of ticks on wild birds. The recent studies by Labruna et al (2007), Ogrzewalska et al (2009Ogrzewalska et al ( , 2010 and Tolesano-Pascoli et al (2010) in Brazil, as well as those carried out by Graham et al (2010) and Jordan et al (2009) can be highlighted. As stated by Ogrzewalska et al (2009), studies on species of ticks carried by wild birds in different ecosystems may help towards understanding their dispersion as possible vectors for disease transmission.…”

“…This association was probably due to the presence (or inclusion among the birds caught) of V. chilensis. It should be highlighted that in most inventories involving parasitism among wild birds, there are reports of greater, and sometimes exclusive, parasitism of the order Passeriformes in areas with typical cerrado vegetation (PASCOAL, 2009;TOLESANO-PASCOLI et al, 2010) and typical areas of Atlantic Forest (LABRUNA et al, 2007;OGRZEWALSKA et al, 2009OGRZEWALSKA et al, , 2010. This order has also been considered to be important for maintaining the lifecycle of ticks such as A. nodosum, playing the role of host for their immature stages (OGRZEWALSKA et al, 2009).…”

Diversidade De Carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) Em Animais Silvestres Recebidos Pelo Zoológico Municipal De Guarulhos

“…No presente estudo foi identificada uma ninfa de Amblyomma sculptum em seriema (Cariama cristata) no município de Mairiporã. Ninfas desta mesma espécie de carrapato também já foram anteriormente identificadas no Brasil em seriemas nos municípios de Jundiaí e Sorocaba, ambas no estado de São Paulo, além do município de Morrinhos localizado no estado de Goiás (LABRUNA et al, 2007;MARTINS et al, 2015;LUZ et al, 2016). Ainda no presente estudo, foram identificadas ninfas desta mesma espécie de carrapato em outra ave, um gavião de cauda curta (Buteo brachyurus), proveniente também do município de Mairiporã.…”