Molecular detection of Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis and Rangelia vitalli in Rhipicephalus sanguineus senso latu collected from dogs in Brazil / [Detecção molecular de Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis e Rangelia vitalli em Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato coletados de cães no Brasil]

ABSTRACT This study evaluated by molecular methods the presence of major canine tick-borne agents in ticks infesting domestic dogs of a hospital population in a neglected area of the southern zone of the São Paulo Metropolitan region, which is characterized by an extensive urban area surrounded and interspersed by forest remnants of the original Atlantic rainforest. During 2017, 106 tick specimens - 71 adults and 33 nymphs of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), and two adults of Amblyomma aureolatum - were collected from 41 dogs that were attended in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in São Paulo City, Brazil. By molecular analyses, 4.2% (3/71) of the R. sanguineus s.l. adult ticks contained the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, 2.8% (2/71) contained the bacterium Ehrlichia canis, and 4.2% (3/71) contained the protozoan Rangelia vitalii. These results indicate that domestic dogs of the southern zone of the São Paulo metropolitan region might be exposed to three of the major tick-borne agents affecting dogs in Brazil, R. rickettsii, E. canis and R. vitalii. In addition, the findings reinforce the circulation of the human pathogen R. rickettsii in the study area in a likely enzootic cycle involving dogs and R. sanguineus ticks.

RESUMO Este estudo avaliou, por métodos moleculares, a presença dos principais agentes etiológicos de doenças caninas transmitidas por carrapatos que infestam cães domésticos de uma população hospitalar, em uma área negligenciada da zona sul da região metropolitana de São Paulo, caracterizada por uma extensa área urbana circundada e intercalada por remanescentes florestais de Mata Atlântica. Durante o ano de 2017, 106 espécimes de carrapatos - 71 adultos e 33 ninfas de Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), e dois adultos de Amblyomma aureolatum - foram coletados de 41 cães atendidos em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Por análises moleculares, 4,2% (3/71) de R. sanguineus s.l. adultos continham a bactéria Rickettsia rickettsii, 2,8% (2/71) continham a bactéria Ehrlichia canis e 4,2% (3/71) continham o protozoário Rangelia vitalii. Esses resultados indicam que cães domésticos da zona sul da região metropolitana de São Paulo podem estar expostos a três dos principais agentes carrapatos que afetam cães no Brasil, R. rickettsii, E. canis e R. vitalii. Além disso, os achados reforçam a circulação do patógeno humano R. rickettsii na área de estudo, em um provável ciclo enzoótico envolvendo cães e carrapatos R. sanguineus.

Migration and season explain tick prevalence in Brazilian birds.

Neotropical birds are mostly parasitized by immature ticks and act as reservoir hosts of tick-borne pathogens of medical and veterinary interest. Hence, determining the factors that enable ticks to encounter these highly mobile hosts and increase the potential for tick dispersal throughout migratory flyways are important for understanding tick-borne disease transmission. We used 9682 individual birds from 572 species surveyed across Brazil and Bayesian models to disentangle possible avian host traits and climatic drivers of infestation probabilities, accounting for avian host phylogenetic relationships and spatiotemporal factors that may influence tick prevalence. Our models revealed that the probability of an individual bird being infested with tick larvae and nymphs was lower in partial migrant hosts and during the wet season. Notably, infestation probability increased in areas with a higher proportion of partial migrant birds. Other avian ecological traits known to influence tick prevalence (foraging habitat and body mass) and environmental condition that might constrain tick abundance (annual precipitation and minimum temperature) did not explain infestation probability. Our findings suggest that migratory flyways harbouring a greater abundance of migrant bird hosts also harbour a higher prevalence of immature ticks with potential to enhance the local transmission of tick-borne pathogens and spread across regions.

Parasitism of a capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) by Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899 and Amblyomma humerale Koch, 1844 in an Amazon forest area, Rondônia, Brazil / [Parasitismo por Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899 e Amblyomma humerale Koch, 1844 em capivara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) em área de Floresta Amazônica, Rondônia, Brasil]

Dois carrapatos adultos, sendo um Amblyomma nodosum e um Amblyomma humerale foram encontrados parasitando ativamente uma capivara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) proveniente da região central do estado de Rondônia, Brasil, na zona rural do município de Ji-Paraná, localizado na Amazônia ocidental. Poucos trabalhos científicos relatam a presença de A. humerale em capivaras. Assim, esta é a primeira vez que A. nodosum é relatado parasitando essa espécie animal. Por não se tratar de um hospedeiro animal conhecido para A. nodosum ou comum para A. humerale, esses achados podem sugerir uma nova relação entre hospedeiros para eles. Portanto, são necessários mais estudos acerca da ecologia desses parasitas, principalmente por serem potenciais transmissores de patógenos de importância em medicina veterinária e saúde pública.(AU)

Métodos de secagem de leitões recém-nascidos leves ou pesados / Drying methods of light or heavy newborn piglets

Objetivou-se avaliar o uso de secagem com pó secante ou papel toalha em leitões recém-nascidos classificados em leves ou pesados. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com esquema fatorial 2x2, com 4 tratamentos, 16 repetições e 1 animal por unidade experimental, totalizando 64 animais e 4 matrizes. Cada unidade formada por uma fêmea mestiça (Large White x Landrace), com 116 dias de gestação. Foi avaliado o desempenho dos animais, temperatura retal e de superfície após cinco minutos e trinta minutos ao nascimento, peso da leitegada, tempo de ingestão do primeiro colostro e mortalidade. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) nos métodos de secagem e categoria de peso. Não houve efeito significativo da interação entre o método de secagem e a categoria de peso. Conclui-se que a utilização do pó secante em leitões ao nascimento proporciona redução do tempo para início da primeira ingestão do colostro, com manutenção da temperatura corporal e não altera o peso ao desmame, comparado com o uso do papel toalha.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of drying powder or paper towel for drying newborn piglets classified as light or heavy. A completely randomized design was used, with a 2x2 or heavy. A completely randomized treatments, 16 replicates and 1 animal per experimental unit, totaling 64 piglets and 4 sows. Each unit was formed by a crossbred female (Large White x Landrace) with 116 days of gestation. We evaluated the performance of the animals and rectal and surface temperature 5 and 30 minutes after birth, litter weight, time of first colostrum ingestion, and mortality. The results showed the absence of a significant effect (P>0.05) of drying method or weight category. There was no significant effect of the interaction between drying method and weight category. In conclusion, the use of drying powder in piglets at birth reduces the time to first colostrum intake, with maintenance of body temperature, and does not alter weaning weight when compared to the use of paper towel.(AU)

Métodos de secagem de leitões recém-nascidos leves ou pesados / Drying methods of light or heavy newborn piglets

Objetivou-se avaliar o uso de secagem com pó secante ou papel toalha em leitões recém-nascidos classificados em leves ou pesados. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com esquema fatorial 2x2, com 4 tratamentos, 16 repetições e 1 animal por unidade experimental, totalizando 64 animais e 4 matrizes. Cada unidade formada por uma fêmea mestiça (Large White x Landrace), com 116 dias de gestação. Foi avaliado o desempenho dos animais, temperatura retal e de superfície após cinco minutos e trinta minutos ao nascimento, peso da leitegada, tempo de ingestão do primeiro colostro e mortalidade. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) nos métodos de secagem e categoria de peso. Não houve efeito significativo da interação entre o método de secagem e a categoria de peso. Conclui-se que a utilização do pó secante em leitões ao nascimento proporciona redução do tempo para início da primeira ingestão do colostro, com manutenção da temperatura corporal e não altera o peso ao desmame, comparado com o uso do papel toalha.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of drying powder or paper towel for drying newborn piglets classified as light or heavy. A completely randomized design was used, with a 2x2 or heavy. A completely randomized treatments, 16 replicates and 1 animal per experimental unit, totaling 64 piglets and 4 sows. Each unit was formed by a crossbred female (Large White x Landrace) with 116 days of gestation. We evaluated the performance of the animals and rectal and surface temperature 5 and 30 minutes after birth, litter weight, time of first colostrum ingestion, and mortality. The results showed the absence of a significant effect (P>0.05) of drying method or weight category. There was no significant effect of the interaction between drying method and weight category. In conclusion, the use of drying powder in piglets at birth reduces the time to first colostrum intake, with maintenance of body temperature, and does not alter weaning weight when compared to the use of paper towel.

Primeiro registro de machos de Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) em jabuti-tinga (Chelonoidis denticulatus) no estado do Amazonas, Amazônia brasileira: relato de caso / First record of males of Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: ixodidae) on yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus) in the Amazonas state, Brazilian Amazon: case report

O carrapato Amblyomma rotundatum é uma espécie partenogenética, encontrada principalmente em anfíbios e répteis silvestres em todos os biomas brasileiros. No presente relato, registra-se a ocorrência de dois machos dessa espécie de ixodídeo encontrados em um jabuti-tinga (Chelonoidis denticulatus) proveniente do município de Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.(AU)

The Amblyomma rotundatum tick is a parthenogenetic species, found mainly in wild amphibians and reptiles in all Brazilian biomes. The present report records the occurrence of two males of this ixodid species found on yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus) from the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.(AU)

Primeiro registro de machos de Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) em jabuti-tinga (Chelonoidis denticulatus) no estado do Amazonas, Amazônia brasileira: relato de caso / First record of males of Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: ixodidae) on yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus) in the Amazonas state, Brazilian Amazon: case report

O carrapato Amblyomma rotundatum é uma espécie partenogenética, encontrada principalmente em anfíbios e répteis silvestres em todos os biomas brasileiros. No presente relato, registra-se a ocorrência de dois machos dessa espécie de ixodídeo encontrados em um jabuti-tinga (Chelonoidis denticulatus) proveniente do município de Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.(AU)

The Amblyomma rotundatum tick is a parthenogenetic species, found mainly in wild amphibians and reptiles in all Brazilian biomes. The present report records the occurrence of two males of this ixodid species found on yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus) from the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.(AU)

A New Collection of Amblyomma parvitarsum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Peru, With Description of a Gynandromorph and Report of Rickettsia Detection.

Adult stages of Amblyomma parvitarsum Neumann parasitize wild and domestic camelids of the genera Lama and Vicugna in highlands of Andean Plateau and Patagonia. Within the Peruvian Andes, few reports have documented this tick-host association, and although reported in Chile and Argentina, Rickettsia-infected A. parvitarsum remains undocumented for this country. Here we report a new collection of A. parvitarsum from Peru, the finding of the first gynandromorph for the species and high prevalence of Rickettsia in adult stages.

Ocorrência de carrapatos em Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) na Caatinga, Nordeste do Brasil / Occurrence of ticks in Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) in Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil

A Caatinga é um bioma exclusivamente brasileiro e um dos mais diversificados do mundo, abrigando grande variedade faunística. Este estudo objetivou relatar a presença de carrapatos em tamanduás Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) atendidos no Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Petrolina-PE, Brasil. De fevereiro de 2010 a fevereiro de 2016, 23 T. tetradactyla foram recebidos e inspecionados para avaliação da presença de carrapatos. A identificação foi realizada pela observação das características morfológicas e pela utilização de chaves taxonômicas. Aproximadamente 8,69% (2/23) dos animais apresentavam parasitismo por carrapatos. Os ixodídeos foram encontrados fixados nas regiões ventral e cervical, e identificados como Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (cinco fêmeas), Amblyomma auricularium (uma larva, 18 ninfas e uma fêmea) e Amblyomma sp. (seis larvas). Este estudo relata o parasitismo inédito de larva de A. auricularium em T. tetradactyla no semiárido pernambucano, bem como reafirma a maior afinidade por membros da superordem Xenarthra. O parasitismo de R. sanguineus s.l. em tamanduá-mirim pode estar relacionado ao compartilhamento do mesmo habitat com cães domésticos infestados. O parasitismo sobre animais silvestres em novas localidades onde não foi registrado previamente deve ser estudado para ampliação do conhecimento sobre a distribuição geográfica dos ixodídeos no Brasil.(AU)

The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome and one of the most diverse in the world, housing a great variety faunal. Southern Tamandua (Linnaeus, 1758), known as collared anteater, can be found throughout the country. The present study aimed to report the presence of ticks on anteaters treated at the Conservation Center and Wildlife Management of Caatinga, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. From February 2010 to February 2016, 23 T. tetradactyla from the municipalities of Juazeiro (BA) Casa Nova (BA), Sento Sé (BA), Nonato (PI), Petrolina (PE), Great Pond (PE ) and Willow (PE), have been received and inspected to evaluate the presence of ticks, which were later collected with the help of anatomical tweezer and stored in tubes containing 70% alcohol. The identification was carried out by observation of morphological characteristics in stereomicroscope and use of taxonomic keys. Approximately 8.69% (2/23) of the animals had parasitism by ticks. The Ixodids were found fixed on ventral and cervical regions and were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (five female), parasitizing the anteater 1 coming from Petrolina-PE; Amblyomma auricularium (one larva, 18 nymphs and a female) and Amblyomma sp. parasitizing the anteater 2 coming from Salgueiro-PE. This study reports the novel parasitism by larva of A. auricularium in T. tetradactyla in semiarid of Pernambuco ; and reaffirms the higher affinity of this ixodid by members of the superorder Xenarthra. It was possible to determine the parasitism of R. sanguineus s.l. in collared anteater, the which may be related to the sharing of the same habitat with domestic dogs infested. The parasitism of wild animals in new locations where they were not previously registered must be stimulated to expand the knowledge of the geographical distribution of ixodids in Brazil.(AU)

Ocorrência de carrapatos em Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) na Caatinga, Nordeste do Brasil / Occurrence of ticks in Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) in Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil

A Caatinga é um bioma exclusivamente brasileiro e um dos mais diversificados do mundo, abrigando grande variedade faunística. Este estudo objetivou relatar a presença de carrapatos em tamanduás Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) atendidos no Centro de Conservação e Manejo de Fauna da Caatinga, Petrolina-PE, Brasil. De fevereiro de 2010 a fevereiro de 2016, 23 T. tetradactyla foram recebidos e inspecionados para avaliação da presença de carrapatos. A identificação foi realizada pela observação das características morfológicas e pela utilização de chaves taxonômicas. Aproximadamente 8,69% (2/23) dos animais apresentavam parasitismo por carrapatos. Os ixodídeos foram encontrados fixados nas regiões ventral e cervical, e identificados como Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (cinco fêmeas), Amblyomma auricularium (uma larva, 18 ninfas e uma fêmea) e Amblyomma sp. (seis larvas). Este estudo relata o parasitismo inédito de larva de A. auricularium em T. tetradactyla no semiárido pernambucano, bem como reafirma a maior afinidade por membros da superordem Xenarthra. O parasitismo de R. sanguineus s.l. em tamanduá-mirim pode estar relacionado ao compartilhamento do mesmo habitat com cães domésticos infestados. O parasitismo sobre animais silvestres em novas localidades onde não foi registrado previamente deve ser estudado para ampliação do conhecimento sobre a distribuição geográfica dos ixodídeos no Brasil.(AU)

The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome and one of the most diverse in the world, housing a great variety faunal. Southern Tamandua (Linnaeus, 1758), known as collared anteater, can be found throughout the country. The present study aimed to report the presence of ticks on anteaters treated at the Conservation Center and Wildlife Management of Caatinga, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. From February 2010 to February 2016, 23 T. tetradactyla from the municipalities of Juazeiro (BA) Casa Nova (BA), Sento Sé (BA), Nonato (PI), Petrolina (PE), Great Pond (PE ) and Willow (PE), have been received and inspected to evaluate the presence of ticks, which were later collected with the help of anatomical tweezer and stored in tubes containing 70% alcohol. The identification was carried out by observation of morphological characteristics in stereomicroscope and use of taxonomic keys. Approximately 8.69% (2/23) of the animals had parasitism by ticks. The Ixodids were found fixed on ventral and cervical regions and were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (five female), parasitizing the anteater 1 coming from Petrolina-PE; Amblyomma auricularium (one larva, 18 nymphs and a female) and Amblyomma sp. parasitizing the anteater 2 coming from Salgueiro-PE. This study reports the novel parasitism by larva of A. auricularium in T. tetradactyla in semiarid of Pernambuco ; and reaffirms the higher affinity of this ixodid by members of the superorder Xenarthra. It was possible to determine the parasitism of R. sanguineus s.l. in collared anteater, the which may be related to the sharing of the same habitat with domestic dogs infested. The parasitism of wild animals in new locations where they were not previously registered must be stimulated to expand the knowledge of the geographical distribution of ixodids in Brazil.(AU)

Ectoparasites of small-mammals: determinants of community structure in South American savannah.

This study aimed to assess the contribution of hosts characteristics (rodents and marsupials) in the organization of ectoparasite communities present in woodland patches in western central Brazil. We verified the effect of host species, sex, body mass and vertical strata in addition to the role of seasonality on the ectoparasite composition, richness and abundance. The total sampling effort was 22 032 trap-nights equally distributed in 54 woodland patches. Variance partition and principal coordinate analysis were used to verify the existence of significant relationships between response variables and predictors. As expected, host species was the most important variable in ectoparasite community assembly. The composition, richness and abundance of mites and lice were highly influenced by host species, although higher for mites than for lice. Host body mass had a determining role on the richness and abundance of tick species. Vertical stratification and seasonality had weak influence, while the sex of the host had no influence on the organization of these communities. The results are closely related to the evolutionary characteristics of the species involved, as well as with local environmental characteristics of the study area.

DIVERSIDADE DE CARRAPATOS (ACARI: IXODIDAE) EM ANIMAIS SILVESTRES RECEBIDOS PELO ZOOLÓGICO MUNICIPAL DE GUARULHOS

O Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos, localizado no estado de São Paulo, recebe e recupera animais silvestres do próprio município e de alguns municípios limítrofes. Entre os anos de 1997 e 2016 foram coletados carrapatos de animais silvestres (Cariama cristata, Buteo brachyurus, Alouatta guariba, Bradypus variegatus, Tamandua tetradactyla, Puma concolor, Cerdocyon thous, Nasua nasua, Mazama gouazoubira, Didelphis aurita, Sphiggurus villosus, Myocastor coypus e Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) atendidos pelo Zoológico. Foram identificadas as seguintes espécies de carrapatos: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca e Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 e Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille, 1806). Apesar de todas as associações carrapato-hospedeiro já terem sido previamente relatadas no território brasileiro, o presente estudo registra pela primeira vez um ginandromorfo de A. dubitatum.

Diversidade de carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) em animais silvestres recebidos pelo Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos / Tick diversity (Acari: Ixodidae) on wild animals received by the Municipal Zoo of Guarulhos

O Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos, localizado no estado de São Paulo, recebe e recupera animais silvestres do próprio município e de alguns municípios limítrofes. Entre os anos de 1997 e 2016 foram coletados carrapatos de animais silvestres (Cariama cristata, Buteo brachyurus, Alouatta guariba, Bradypus variegatus, Tamandua tetradactyla, Puma concolor, Cerdocyon thous, Nasua nasua, Mazama gouazoubira, Didelphis aurita, Sphiggurus villosus, Myocastor coypus e Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) atendidos pelo Zoológico. Foram identificadas as seguintes espécies de carrapatos: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca e Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 e Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille, 1806). Apesar de todas as associações carrapato-hospedeiro já terem sido previamente relatadas no território brasileiro, o presente estudo registra pela primeira vez um ginandromorfo de A. dubitatum.(AU)

The Municipal Zoo of Guarulhos, located in the state of São Paulo, receives and recovers wild animals from the Guarulhos municipality and from some neighboring municipalities. Between the years of 1997 and 2016 ticks were collected on wild animals (Cariama cristata, Buteo brachyurus, Alouatta guariba, Bradypus variegatus, Tamandua tetradactyla, Puma concolor, Cerdocyon thous, Nasua nasua, Mazama gouazoubira, Didelphis aurita, Sphiggurus villosus, Myocastor coypus, and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) attended by the Zoo. The following tick species have been identified: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille, 1806). Although all tick-host associations have previously been reported in Brazilian territory, the present study records for the first time a gynandromorph of A. dubitatum.(AU)

Diversidade de carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) em animais silvestres recebidos pelo Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos / Tick diversity (Acari: Ixodidae) on wild animals received by the Municipal Zoo of Guarulhos

O Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos, localizado no estado de São Paulo, recebe e recupera animais silvestres do próprio município e de alguns municípios limítrofes. Entre os anos de 1997 e 2016 foram coletados carrapatos de animais silvestres (Cariama cristata, Buteo brachyurus, Alouatta guariba, Bradypus variegatus, Tamandua tetradactyla, Puma concolor, Cerdocyon thous, Nasua nasua, Mazama gouazoubira, Didelphis aurita, Sphiggurus villosus, Myocastor coypus e Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) atendidos pelo Zoológico. Foram identificadas as seguintes espécies de carrapatos: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca e Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 e Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille, 1806). Apesar de todas as associações carrapato-hospedeiro já terem sido previamente relatadas no território brasileiro, o presente estudo registra pela primeira vez um ginandromorfo de A. dubitatum.

The Municipal Zoo of Guarulhos, located in the state of São Paulo, receives and recovers wild animals from the Guarulhos municipality and from some neighboring municipalities. Between the years of 1997 and 2016 ticks were collected on wild animals (Cariama cristata, Buteo brachyurus, Alouatta guariba, Bradypus variegatus, Tamandua tetradactyla, Puma concolor, Cerdocyon thous, Nasua nasua, Mazama gouazoubira, Didelphis aurita, Sphiggurus villosus, Myocastor coypus, and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) attended by the Zoo. The following tick species have been identified: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844), Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragão, 1952, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946, Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille, 1806). Although all tick-host associations have previously been reported in Brazilian territory, the present study records for the first time a gynandromorph of A. dubitatum.

A survey of tick-borne pathogens in dogs and their ticks in the Pantanal biome, Brazil.

Tick and blood samples collected from domestic dogs in the Brazilian Pantanal were tested by molecular methods for the presence of tick-borne protozoa and bacteria. Among 320 sampled dogs, 3.13% were infected by Babesia vogeli (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), 8.75% by Hepatozoon canis (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae), 7.19% by Anaplasma platys (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and 0.94% by an unclassified Anaplasma sp. In three tick species collected from dogs, the following tick-borne agents were detected: (a) B. vogeli, An. platys and Ehrlichia canis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), infecting Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks; (b) H. canis, an unclassified Anaplasma sp. and Rickettsia amblyommii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), infecting Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks, and (c) Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest, an emerging human pathogen, infecting Amblyomma ovale ticks. Molecular analysis, based on a mitochondrial gene, revealed that the Am. cajennense s.l. ticks of the present study corresponded to Amblyomma sculptum, a member of the Am. cajennense species complex, and that Rh. sanguineus s.l. belonged to the tropical lineage. Whereas dogs are exposed to a number of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan agents in the Pantanal biome, humans are potentially exposed to infection by spotted fever group rickettsiae (e.g. R. amblyommii and Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest) because both Am. sculptum and Am. ovale are among the most important human-biting ticks in Brazil.

Rickettsial Infection in Animals, Humans and Ticks in Paulicéia, Brazil.

A previous study in Paulicéia Municipality, south-eastern Brazil, reported 9.7% of the Amblyomma triste ticks to be infected by Rickettsia parkeri, a bacterial pathogen that causes spotted fever in humans. These A. triste ticks were shown to be associated with marsh areas, where the marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus is a primary host for this tick species. During 2008-2009, blood serum samples were collected from 140 horses, 41 dogs, 5 opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and 26 humans in farms from Pauliceia Municipality. Ticks were collected from these animals, from vegetation and from additional wildlife in these farms. Overall, 25% (35/140) of the horses, 7.3% (3/41) of the dogs, 3.8% (1/26) of the humans and 100% (5/5) of the opossums were seroreactive (titre ≥64) to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that horses that were allowed to forage in the marsh were 4.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp than horses that did not forage in the marsh. In addition, horses that had been living in the farm for more than 8.5 years were 2.8 times more likely to be seroreactive to SFG Rickettsia spp than horses that were living for ≤8.5 years. Ticks collected from domestic animals or from vegetation included Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma dubitatum, Dermacentor nitens and Rhipicephalus microplus. By PCR analyses, only one pool of A. coelebs ticks from the vegetation was shown to be infected by rickettsiae, for which DNA sequencing revealed to be Rickettsia amblyommii. Ticks (not tested by PCR) collected from wildlife encompassed A. cajennense and Amblyomma rotundatum on lizards (Tupinambis sp), and A. cajennense and A. triste on the bird Laterallus viridis. Our results indicate that the marsh area of Paulicéia offers risks of infection by SFG rickettsiae.

In vitro isolation from Amblyomma ovale (Acari: Ixodidae) and ecological aspects of the Atlantic rainforest Rickettsia, the causative agent of a novel spotted fever rickettsiosis in Brazil.

Recently, a novel human rickettsiosis, namely Atlantic rainforest spotted fever, was described in Brazil. We herein report results of a survey led around the index case in an Atlantic rainforest reserve in Peruibe municipality, southeastern Brazil. A Rickettsia parkeri-like agent (Rickettsia sp. Atlantic rainforest genotype) and Ricketsia bellii were isolated from adult Amblyomma ovale ticks collected from dogs. Molecular evidence of infection with strain Atlantic rainforest was obtained for 30 (12.9%) of 232 A. ovale adult ticks collected from dogs. As many as 88.6% of the 35 examined dogs had anti-Rickettsia antibodies, with endpoint titres at their highest to R. parkeri. High correlation among antibody titres in dogs, A. ovale infestations, and access to rainforest was observed. Amblyomma ovale subadults were found predominantly on a rodent species (Euryoryzomys russatus). From 17 E. russatus tested, 6 (35.3%) displayed anti-Rickettsia antibodies, with endpoint titres highest to R. parkeri. It is concluded that Atlantic rainforest genotype circulates in this Atlantic rainforest area at relatively high levels. Dogs get infected when bitten by A. ovale ticks in the forest, and carry infected ticks to households. The role of E. russatus as an amplifier host of Rickettsia to A. ovale ticks deserves investigation.

A surrogate life cycle of Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844.

As ticks spend most of their time off-host, the environment is a major selective force of these parasites. In fact, human impact on landscapes has favored a minority of tick species which became well-known pests. However, this is an ongoing process and novel pests may arise. We herein report a surrogate life cycle of a neotropical tick species, Amblyomma ovale, and which may be related to an increased risk of human rickettsiosis. Under natural conditions, adults of this tick species feed on carnivores and exhibit non-nidicolous ambush behavior, whereas larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents and birds. In an anthropized spot within an Atlantic rainforest reserve of Brazil, an A. ovale population exhibited a nidicolous behavior with all 3 tick stages feeding on the dog. This dog's infestation was outstandingly high, and it displayed the highest anti-Rickettsia titers and harbored Rickettsia-infected ticks.

Amblyomma dissimile Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) attacking Primolius maracana Vieillot (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) in the Amazon region, State of Pará, Brazil.

The tick Amblyomma dissimile Koch feeds preferentially on reptiles (Squamata), although amphibians (Anura) also seem to be important hosts. We report an A. dissimile nymph infesting a blue-winged macaw, Primolius maracana, held in captivity in the Mangal das Garças Park, State of Pará, Brazil. Environmental observations suggest that free-living iguanas (Iguana iguana), which used to walk on the bird enclosure in the park, were the source of the A. dissimile tick that infested the blue-winged macaw. We provide the second world record of a bird host for A. dissimile, and the first bird record for this species in South America.