New records of Amblyomma ticks parasitizing neotropical primates in Brazil

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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 ; Furuya, Haroldo Ryoiti ; de Sa, Lilian Rose Marques ; dos Santos, Leonora Antunes ; de Moura, Anderson Barbosa ; Pinter, Adriano ; Labruna, Marcelo Bahia ; Chryssafidis, Andreas Lazaros

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES; v. 14, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2023-03-24.

Abstract

Amblyomma is an important tick genus for animal and human health, with some species being the vectors of zoonotic pathogens, such as Rickettsia rickettsii, in the Neotropical region. Knowing their hosts may help to understand the distribution of these agents and decrease the occurrence of clinical cases. Primates are intelligent and adaptable animals that can get close to humans in the search for food. So, they may be an important epidemiological link for the spread of these ticks. Beyond that, primates also suffer from these infections, serving as sentinels for different diseases. Thus, the present study aims to report the parasitism by Amblyomma spp. on six species of Neotropical primates from different locations in Brazil. The 337 collected ticks were morphologically identified using stereomicroscopes and taxonomic keys, and six distinct species of ticks were identified. We report here the first record of nymphs of the tick species Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto on Alouatta belzebul, a male of Amblyomma fuscum on Alouatta guariba clamitans, nymphs of Amblyomma sculptum on Leontopithecus chrysopygus and Callithrix aurita, as well as nymphs of Amblyomma geayi on Saimiri collinsi. Of the 337 tick specimens collected, 256 (75,96%) were nymphs. The importance of primates in the life cycle of these species remains to be elucidated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 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
• Grantee: Thiago Fernandes Martins
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 19/03167-0 - 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
• Grantee: Thiago Fernandes Martins
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants