Ticks species (Ixodida) in the Summit Municipal Park and adjacent areas, Panama City, Panama

Abstract

From September 2007 to September 2009, we studied the species of ticks present in the Summit Municipal Park. Ticks were extracted from zoo animals, free-living wild mammals and reptiles trapped, dead mammals on the roads and environment (ground and zoo burrows). A total of 2,649 ticks were collected: 2,167 immature stages (1,345 larvae and 822 nymphs) and 482 adults. Seventeen species were identified: Ornithodoros puertorricensis (Argasidae), Amblyomma auricularium, A. cajennense, A. calcaratum, A. dissimile, A. geayi, A. naponense, A. nodosum, A. oblongoguttatum, A. ovale, A. pecarium, A. sabanerae, A. tapirellum, A. varium, Ixodes luciae, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodidae), representing 36% of the species reported in Panama. Amblyomma ovale was the species most commonly infesting animals from the zoo.

<p><strong>Wild Carnivores (Mammalia) as hosts for Ticks (Ixodida) in Panama</strong></p>

“…Under these conditions, wildlife is susceptible to being parasitized by R. sanguineus s.l. (Labruna et al 2005, Bermúdez et al 2010.…”

Evidencia serológica de infecciones de Rickettsia en humanos provenientes de tres localidades de Panamá

“…This park consists of a large garden and a zoo with animals representing Panamanian fauna (13,14). We obtained serum samples from garden workers, animal keepers, education personnel, administration and maintenance staff.…”

“…With respect to volunteers working in the SMP, they not only showed exposure to ticks in the park, but also claimed to have pets at home. At least 17 species of ticks have recently been reported for this park, including species that can potentially parasitize humans (13,14).…”

Amblyomma auricularium (Acari: Ixodidae): underwater survival of the non-parasitic phase of feeding females

“…Amblyomma auricularium (Conil, 1878) is a tick species widely dispersed in Nearctic and Neotropical regions (LORD; DAY, 2000;GUGLIELMONE et al, 2003;NAVA, 2006;NAVA et al, 2007;BERMÚDEZ et al, 2010;GUZMÁN-CORNEJO et al, 2011). The hosts listed for this species include pigs, rodents, marsupials, and carnivores (ALLAN et al, 2001;GUGLIELMONE et al, 2003;DANTAS-TORRES et al, 2010).…”

“…Species of Dasypodidae, known as armadillos, seem to be the tick's preferred hosts (EVANS et al, 2000;VENZAL et al, 2002;GUGLIELMONE et al, 2003;NAVA, 2006;OLEGÁRIO et al, 2006;SZABÓ et al, 2007;BERMÚDEZ et al, 2010). Among them, the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, (Linnaeus, 1758), is the one most commonly recorded (GUGLIELMONE et al, 2003).…”