Dichotomic and pictorial taxonomic key for larvae of the genus Amblyomma (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) that occur in Brazil, using optical and scanning electron microscopy for description and morphological redescription of the larval stage

• Grant number: 19/03167-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Fernandes Martins
• Grantee: Thiago Fernandes Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto Pasteur (IP). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Adriano Pinter dos Santos ; Agustin Estrada-Peña ; Marcelo Bahia Labruna ; Pablo Henrique Nunes ; Vera Lucia Fonseca de Camargo Neves
• Associated research grant: 17/50345-5 - Institutional development plan in research and technology for vector surveillance and control of the Superintendência do Controle de Endemias - SUCEN (PDIp), AP.PDIP
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/05987-1 - Dichotomic and pictorial taxonomic key for larvae of the genus Amblyomma (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) that occur in Brazil, using optical and scanning electron microscopy for description and morphological redescription of the larval stage, BP.JP

Abstract

Ticks of the genus Amblyomma have the greatest medical and veterinary importance in Brazil, since ticks of this genus parasitize wild animals, domestic and accidentally humans that enter rural and forest areas for work and recreation purposes. Tick larvae of the genus Amblyomma are quite aggressive to humans and are frequently documented both in human parasitism and in the transmission of Brazilian spotted fever and other rickettsial diseases in the country. However, due to the lack of morphological description of many of the larvae of the species of Amblyomma ticks occurring in Brazilian territory, together with the lack of a complete taxonomic key for these ticks, very little is known about the species of Amblyomma larvae which parasitize humans and animals in the country. In Brazil, the vast majority of studies of systematics, bioecology and tick control have been concentrated in the nymphal and adult stages of Amblyomma, since they are the two stages in which there are morphological descriptions and taxonomic keys for all species known up to the present moment. In the present research project, the description and morphological redescription of the larval stage of ticks of the genus Amblyomma using molecular techniques, optical and scanning electronic microscopy, morphometry, chaetotaxy and porotaxy will be performed for the larval stage of the 31 species of this genus that occur in the national territory. It will include 12 species for which the larval stage remains without description: A. aureolatum, A. cajennense, A. coelebs, A. fuscum, A. goeldii, A. humerale, A. incisum, A. latepunctatum, A. naponense, A. pseudoconcolor, A. scalpturatum, and A. yucumense. A dichotomic and pictorial taxonomic key with important features illustrated by optical and scanning electron microscopy will be constructed for the larvae of the 31 Amblyomma species that make up the Brazilian fauna of Amblyomma. In addition to the 12 species mentioned above, the other 19 species included in this identification key with their morphological descriptions already reported in the literature are: A. auricularium, A. brasiliense, A. calcaratum, A. dissimile, A. dubitatum, A. geayi, A. longirostre, A. nodosum, A. oblongoguttatum, A. ovale, A. pacae, A. parkeri, A. parvum, A. romitii, A. rotundatum, A. sculptum, A. tigrinum, A. triste, and A. varium. Through the construction of the present taxonomic key, the medical-veterinary importance, the geographical distribution through acarological maps and the hosts of the larval stage will be possible in the future for each species, and can thus contribute significantly to the reduction of agents transmitted by ticks to human beings within the Brazilian territory. (AU)

Scientific publications

(24)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; PINTER, ADRIANO. uman parasitism by the exotic tick Dermacentor variabilis (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) in Brazil: report of an imported cas. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 31, n. 1, 2022. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

NOGUEIRA, BARBARA CRISTINA FELIX; CAMPOS, ARTUR KANADANI; MUNOZ-LEAL, SEBASTIAN; PINTER, ADRIANO; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES. Soft and hard ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on humans: A review of Brazilian biomes and the impact of environmental change. Acta Tropica, v. 234, p. 20-pg., 2022-07-24. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

LUZ, HERMES R.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; PACHECO, RICHARD C.; GIANIZELLA, SERGIO L.; NUNES, PABLO H.; SZABO, MATIAS P. J.; GERARDI, MONIZE; TEIXEIRA, RODRIGO H. F.; DA SILVA, SILVIO C.; KMETIUK, LOUISE B.; et al. Morphological anomalies in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 6, p. 10-pg., 2023-07-01. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

DOMINGUEZ, A. LILLIAN; MARTINS, THIAGO F.; KADOCH, NATHANIEL; BERMUDEZ, C. SERGIO. First report of Amblyomma varium (Ixodida: Ixodidae) as hosts of Ixodiphagus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY, v. 28, n. 12, p. 6-pg., 2023-12-01. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

LUZ, HERMES RIBEIRO; DE CAMPOS, CARLOS EDUARDO COSTA; COSTA-JUNIOR, LIVIO MARTINS; SANTOS, ERCILEIDE SILVA; HASS, ADRIANI; SOUSA, DAUANA MESQUITA; DE MOARES E SILVA, RUTH MYRIAN; ROCHA, JOSIANE MOREIRA; ALBUQUERQUE, GEORGE REGO; ARGOLO, ANTONIO JORGE; et al. Ticks parasitizing cold-blooded animals from three different Brazilian biomes; with note for males of Amblyomma rotundatum. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 15, n. 6, p. 8-pg., 2024-07-15. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

DA GAMA, BRUNA COSTA; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; LABRUNA, MARCELO BAHIA; VIEIRA, RAFAEL FELIPE DA COSTA; DE ALMEIDA, JONATAS CAMPOS. First report of Amblyomma sculptum (Amblyomma cajennense complex) in a Brazilian state classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis. VETERINARY WORLD, v. 16, n. 11, p. 5-pg., 2023-11-01. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

FECCHIO, ALAN; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; DIAS, RAPHAEL I.; BELL, JEFFREY A.; PINHO, JOAO B.; SILVA, VICTORIA LUIZA DE BARROS; PACHECO, RICHARD DE CAMPOS. Immature hard ticks infected with Rickettsia amblyommatis on breeding birds from Pantanal. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 2, p. 8-pg., 2023-01-20. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

DARCI MORAES BARROS-BATTESTI; MARCOS ROGÉRIO ANDRÉ; ESTEVAM GUILHERME LUX HOPPE; GUSTAVO SERON SANCHES; RICARDO BASSINI-SILVA; ANA CLAÚDIA CALCHI; LÍVIA OLIVEIRA ANDRADE; PATRÍCIA PARREIRA PERIN; THIAGO FERNANDES MARTINS; ANA CAROLINA CASTRO-SANTIAGO; et al. Interessantes registros dos carrapatos Ornithodoros rostratus e Amblyomma sculptum parasitando Pteronura brasiliensis na região centro-oeste do Brasil, com informações sobre a investigação de patógenos. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 33, n. 1, 2023-12-22. (21/06758-9, 20/05987-1, 17/01416-7, 19/03167-0, 20/11755-6, 19/19853-0, 20/07826-5, 18/24667-8)

BAGGIO-SOUZA, VINICIUS; MAY-JUNIOR, JOARES ADENILSON; FAGUNDES-MOREIRA, RENATA; REIS, ADEYLDES OLIVEIRA; DE ALMEIDA, BRUNO ALBUQUERQUE; FRAGOSO, CARLOS EDUARDO; RAMPIM, LILIAN ELAINE; SARTORELO, LEONARDO RODRIGUES; HABERFELD, MARIO BUEHRKE; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; et al. A long-term study on free-ranging jaguar-tick interactions, featuring a novel report of Amblyomma incisum adult infestation. VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, v. 48, n. 3, p. 6-pg., 2024-01-17. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

DE ARAUJO, FLAVIO EDUARDO SARAIVA; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; RAMOS, CARLOS CELSO MENDONCA; NOGUEIRA, RAFAEL MICHAEL SILVA; FACCINI, JOAO LUIZ HORACIO; TAVARES, MARIANA AVELAR; DE LIMA, NICOLAS JALOWITZKI; DE ALMEIDA JUNIOR, EDUARDO BEZERRA; DE SOUSA-PAULA, LUCAS CHRISTIAN; DANTAS-TORRES, FILIPE; et al. Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) sensu stricto in a degraded area of the Amazon biome, with notes on Rickettsia amblyommatis infection. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 16, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2023-10-27. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

LUZ, HERMES R.; SILVA, RUTH M.; RAMIREZ, DIEGO G.; TEIXEIRA, RODRIGO H. F.; BARBIERI, AMALIA R. M.; SOARES, HERBET S.; SOARES, JOAO F.; SOUSA, DAUANA M.; FACCINI, JOAO LUIZ H.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; et al. Life cycle of Amblyomma calcaratum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions. Parasitology Research, v. 123, n. 11, p. 5-pg., 2024-11-01. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

DE SOUZA, VANESSA LIMA; COSTA, FRANCISCO BORGES; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; DE OLIVEIRA, PATRICIA ROSA; LIMA, JONATAS; GUIMARA, DAVID PEDROZA; DOS SANTOSB, EDNAIRA ALENCAR; DE MOURA-MARTINIANO, NICOLE OLIVEIRA; SATO, TAYRA PEREIRA; BORSOI, ANA BEATRIZ PAIS; et al. Detection of Rickettsia tamurae-like and other spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with wild birds in the Western Amazon, Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 4, p. 10-pg., 2023-04-24. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

ACOSTA, IGOR DA CUNHA LIMA; GARCIA, ISAIAS ROVERI; LUZ, HERMES RIBEIRO; SERPA, MARIA CAROLINA DE AZEVEDO; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; VANSTREELS, RALPH ERIC THIJL; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.. New tick records with notes on rickettsial infection from the wildlife of the state of Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 15, n. 2, p. 9-pg., 2023-12-12. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

BARROS-BATTESTI, DARCI MORAES; ANDRE, MARCOS ROGERIO; HOPPE, ESTEVAM GUILHERME LUX; SERON, GUSTAVO; BASSINI-SILVA, RICARDO; CALCHI, ANA CLAUDIA; ANDRADE, LIVIA OLIVEIRA; PERIN, PATRICIA PARREIRA; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; CASTRO-SANTIAGO, ANA CAROLINA; et al. Noteworthy records of the ticks Ornithodoros rostratus and Amblyomma sculptum parasitizing Pteronura brasiliensis in the central-western region of Brazil, with pathogen investigation notes. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 33, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2024-01-01. (20/11755-6, 18/24667-8, 20/05987-1, 20/07826-5, 19/19853-0, 19/03167-0, 17/01416-7, 21/06758-9)

DE LIMA, FELIPE RIETH; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; DE CASTRO, PAULO HENRIQUE GOMES; DE SOUZA JUNIOR, JULIO CESAR; FELIPPI, DANIEL ANGELO; REZENDE, GABRIELA CABRAL; PEREIRA, VINICIUS JOSE ALVES; PORT-CARVALHO, MARCIO; SCHULZ, BIANKA HEIMESHOFF; PETRI, BRUNO SIMOES SERGIO; et al. New records of Amblyomma ticks parasitizing neotropical primates in Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2023-03-24. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

THIAGO FERNANDES MARTINS; ADRIANO PINTER. Parasitismo humano pelo carrapato exótico Dermacentor variabilis (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) no Brasil: relato de um caso importado. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 31, n. 1, 2022-01-05. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

FELIX NOGUEIRA, BARBARA CRISTINA; CASSIANO, LIARA DE AZEVEDO; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; YAMATOGI, RICARDO SEITI; RIBON, ROMULO; CAMPOS, ARTUR KANADANI. Ixodid diversity and detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected on birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Acta Tropica, v. 236, p. 9-pg., 2022-09-11. (19/03167-0)

PRATI, ANNY CAROLINA; MAIA, MAERLE OLIVEIRA; MARTINS, THIAGO FERNANDES; MORGADO, THAIS OLIVEIRA; CORREA, SANDRA HELENA RAMIRO; MENDES, EDSON JUNIOR FIGUEIREDO; FERRAZ, ROSA HELENA DOS SANTOS; MUDREK, JESSICA RHAIZA; STRUSSMANN, CHRISTINE; RAMOS, DIRCEU GUILHERME DE SOUZA; et al. Diversity of rickettsiae in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from wild vertebrates in part of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes in Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 32, n. 4, p. 18-pg., 2023-01-01. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

DE SOUZA JR, JULIO C.; DE OLIVEIRA, KARINA H. L.; GRUENER, CINTIA G.; BARBIERI, AMALIA R. M.; MARTINS, THIAGO F.; SOARES, JOAO F.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.. Sharing of living area and exposure of domestic and wild canids to ticks,Rickettsia parkeri andRangelia vitalii in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS, v. 43, p. 5-pg., 2023-08-01. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

SOARES, JOAO F.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; DE AMORIM, DEREK B.; BAGGIO-SOUZA, VINICIUS; FAGUNDES-MOREIRA, RENATA; GIROTTO-SOARES, ALINE; WECK, BARBARA; NUNES, PABLO H.; MARTINS, THIAGO F.. Description of Amblyomma monteiroae n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), a parasite of the great horned owl (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in southern Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 6, p. 14-pg., 2023-11-01. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

CHITIMIA-DOBLER, LIDIA; FACHET, KATRIN; LINDAU, ALEXANDER; MACKENSTEDT, UTE; STRUBE, CHRISTINA; SPRINGER, ANDREA; EISENBERG, TOBIAS; SCHAPER, SABINE; NAVA, SANTIAGO; DOBLER, GERHARD; et al. Exotic ticks removed from German travelers. Parasitology Research, v. 123, n. 2, p. 7-pg., 2024-02-01. (19/03167-0, 20/05987-1)

ANNY CAROLINA PRATI; MAERLE OLIVEIRA MAIA; THIAGO FERNANDES MARTINS; THAÍS OLIVEIRA MORGADO; SANDRA HELENA RAMIRO CORRÊA; EDSON JUNIOR FIGUEIREDO MENDES; ROSA HELENA DOS SANTOS FERRAZ; JESSICA RHAIZA MUDREK; CHRISTINE STRÜSSMANN; DIRCEU GUILHERME DE SOUZA RAMOS; et al. Diversidade de riquétsias em carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) coletados de vertebrados silvestres em parte dos biomas Amazônia, Cerrado e Pantanal no Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 32, n. 4, 2023-10-13. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

ODA, FABRICIO H.; MARTINS, THIAGO F.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; O'SHEA, MARK; KAISER, HINRICH. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of three Timor-Leste reptiles: first country record of Amblyomma helvolum, with new interactions and an updated list of host species. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 14, n. 2, p. 9-pg., 2023-03-01. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)

MARTINS, THIAGO F.; YOGUI, DEBORA R.; ALVES, MARIO H.; KLUYBER, DANILO; MASSOCATO, GABRIEL; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; DESBIEZ, ARNAUD L. J.. Surveillance of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on monitored free-ranging giant anteaters and on road-killed anteaters and armadillos in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwestern Brazil. SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY, v. 28, n. 4, p. 6-pg., 2023-04-01. (20/05987-1, 19/03167-0)