Amblyomma cajennense (star tick) and Mus musculus (mice) exposed to Acmella oleracea (jambu): tracking of morphological changes in the integument and salivary glands of the ectoparasites and of the thyroid and liver of the mice

• Grant number: 19/15307-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Izabel Souza Camargo
• Grantee: Thais Scopinho Ceccato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ticks are ectoparasites of great epidemiological importance, since they are vectors of many pathogens for several animal species, mainly mammals, including man. Adults of the species Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato are of medical importance because they are vectors of the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Brazilian Spotted Fever (FMB) or Rocky Mountain Fever, or even Tick Fever, the consequences of which can lead the host to death. In addition to this, they are also vectors of Theileria equi, the etiological agent of equine piroplasmosis. In the search for an efficient control of tick infestations, the use of acaricides with synthetic chemical bases has predominated, since they are efficient in the elimination of ectoparasites, but harmful to man and the environment. From this perspective, seeking acaricides from bioactives from plants has shown to be a promising alternative. Thus, the present study will have as main objective to track and evaluate what are the morphological changes in the integument and in the salivary glands due to the exposure of A. cajennense ticks to the extract of the aerial parts (flower, leaf and stem) of the jambu (Acmella oleracea) (Asteraceae), since studies have already proven that these bioactive mites are efficient. In addition to the ectoparasite evaluation, evaluations will also be carried out on the thyroid and liver of Mus musculus mice which will simulate the hosts' exposure to the extracts (spray application). All microscopic analyzes will take place from data obtained by the application of morphohistological and histochemical techniques (both in ectoparasites and in mice) to be later compared with the data available in the literature, thus having a parameter to indicate or not the use of these bioactive in the control of ticks. (AU)