Comparative biology of ticks of the species groups Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense

• Grant number: 13/13650-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Bahia Labruna
• Grantee: Marcelo Bahia Labruna
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant(s): 13/50605-6 - Evaluation of the infection of birds and hard ticks by Flavivirus and Rickettsias of regional healthy importance, AP.R

Abstract

Until recently, the taxon Amblyomma cajennense had been treated as a single tick species distributed from the south of United States to the north of Argentina. Nevertheless, a recent study concluded that this taxon is actually represented by six genetically and geographically different species, including Amblyomma cajennense senso stricto, occurring in the Amazonian region, and Amblyomma sculptum occurring in the Southeastern and Central-western regions and parts of the Southern and Northeastern regions of Brazil. Similarly, until recently, it was thought that the taxon Rhipicephalus sanguineus represented a single cosmopolitan species that parasitizes the domestic dog. Currently in Brazil, this taxon is represented by a species (designated as temperate species) occurring in southern Brazil, and another species (designated as tropical species) occurring in the remaining regions of the country. Since all these species differ in relation to the pathogens they transmit to humans and animals, it is important to know the factors that regulate their current geographic distribution. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate under laboratory conditions the biology of these four tick species. The effect of different conditions of relative humidity, temperature, and photoperiod will be evaluated on the development and survivorship of all developmental stages of A. cajennense s.s. versus A. sculptum, and the temperate species versus the tropical species of R. sanguineus. The results will allow a better understand of the factors related to the geographic distribution of each species, and consequently, on the epidemiology of the diseases transmitted by each of these tick species. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

LABRUNA, MARCELO B.; GERARDI, MONIZE; KRAWCZAK, FELIPE S.; MORAES-FILHO, JONAS. Comparative biology of the tropical and temperate species of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) under different laboratory conditions. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 8, n. 1, p. 146-156, 2017. (13/13650-3)

LABRUNA, MARCELO B.. Comparative survival of the engorged stages of Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto and Amblyomma sculptum under different laboratory conditions. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 9, n. 4, p. 996-1001, MAY 2018. (13/13650-3)

LUZ, HERMES R.; RAMIREZ-HERNANDEZ, ALEJANDRO; BENATTI, HECTOR R.; RAMIREZ, DIEGO G.; SZABO, MATIAS P. J.; LABRUNA, MARCELO B.. Comparative survival of the engorged stages of Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma sculptum in the laboratory: Implications for Brazilian spotted fever epidemiology. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 11, n. 2, MAR 2020. (13/18046-7, 13/13650-3, 17/00117-6)