Geographical distribution of Amblyomma cajennense (sensu lato) ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) in Brazil, with description of the nymph of A-cajennense (sensu stricto)

Author(s):Show less -

Martins, Thiago F. ^[1] ; Barbieri, Amalia R. M. ^[1] ; Costa, Francisco B. ^[1] ; Terassini, Flavio A. ^[2] ; Camargo, Luis M. A. ^{[2, 3]} ; Peterka, Cassio R. L. ^[4] ; Pacheco, Richard de C. ^[5] ; Dias, Ricardo A. ^[1] ; Nunes, Pablo H. ^[6] ; Marcili, Arlei ^{[1, 7]} ; Scofield, Alessandra ^[8] ; Campos, Artur K. ^[9] ; Horta, Mauricio C. ^[10] ; Guilloux, Aline G. A. ^[1] ; Benatti, Hector R. ^[1] ; Ramirez, Diego G. ^[11] ; Barros-Battesti, Darci M. ^[11] ; Labruna, Marcelo B. ^[1]

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Av Prof Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Fac Sao Lucas, R Alexandre Guimaraes Areal 1927, BR-78916450 Porto Velho, Rondonia - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Parasitol, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 1374, BR-05389970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Coordenacao Geral Programa Nacl Controle Malaria, Setor Comercial Sul, Quadra 04, Bloco A, Edificio Principal, 6 Andar, BR-70304000 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Mato Grosso, Fac Agron Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Ciencias Basicas & Prod Anim, Av Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, BR-78060900 Cuiaba, Mato Grosso - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Integracao Latino Amer, Inst Latin Amer Ciencias Vida & Nat, Av Tarquinio Joslin dos Santos 1000, BR-85870901 Foz Do Iguacu, Parana - Brazil

^[7] Univ Santo Amaro, R Prof Eneas de Siqueira Neto 340, BR-04829300 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[8] Fed Univ Para, Curso Med Vet, Fac Med Vet, Av Maximino Porpino 1000, BR-68740000 Castanhal, Para - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Vicosa, Dept Vet, Av PH Rolfs S-N, BR-36570000 Vicosa, MG - Brazil

^[10] Univ Fed Vale Sao Francisco, Campus Ciencias Agr, Rodovia BR 407, Km 12, BR-56300990 Petrolina, PE - Brazil

^[11] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Colecoes Zool, Av Vital Brasil 1500, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PARASITES & VECTORS; v. 9, MAR 31 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 47

Abstract

Background: Until recently, Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) was considered to represent a single tick species in the New World. Recent studies have split this taxon into six species. While the A. cajennense species complex or A. cajennense (sensu lato) (s.l.) is currently represented by two species in Brazil, A. cajennense (sensu stricto) (s.s.) and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, their geographical distribution is poorly known. Methods: The distribution of the A. cajennense (s.l.) in Brazil was determined by morphological examination of all lots of A. cajennense (s.l.) in two large tick collections of Brazil, and by collecting new material during three field expeditions in the possible transition areas between the distribution ranges of A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the ITS2 rRNA gene was used to validate morphological results. Morphological description of the nymphal stage of A. cajennense (s.s.) is provided based on laboratory-reared specimens. Results: From the tick collections, a total 12,512 adult ticks were examined and identified as 312 A. cajennense (s.s.), 6,252 A. sculptum and 5,948 A. cajennense (s.l.). A total of 1,746 ticks from 77 localities were collected during field expeditions, and were identified as 249 A. cajennense (s.s.), 443 A. sculptum, and 1,054 A. cajennense (s.l.) {[}these A. cajennense (s.l.) ticks were considered to be males of either A. cajennense (s.s.) or A. sculptum]. At least 23 localities contained the presence of both A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum in sympatry. DNA sequences of the ITS2 gene of 50 ticks from 30 localities confirmed the results of the morphological analyses. The nymph of A. cajennense (s.s.) is morphologically very similar to A. sculptum. Conclusion: Our results confirmed that A. cajennense (s.l.) is currently represented in Brazil by only two species, A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum. While these species have distinct distribution areas in the country, they are found in sympatry in some transition areas. The current distribution of A. cajennense (s.l.) has important implications to public health, since in Brazil A. sculptum is the most important vector of the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/14464-1 - Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of ticks of the genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) that occur in Brazil
• Grantee: Thiago Fernandes Martins
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral