Microorganisms in the ticks Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844 collected from snakes in Brazil

The objective of this study was to investigate tick infestations on snakes (Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes) arriving at the serpentarium at the Institute Vital Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Some of the identified ticks were individually tested for the presence of bacteria of the generaRickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae),Borrelia (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae),Coxiella (Legionellales: Coxiellaceae),Bartonella (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae),Ehrlichia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae),Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Apicomplexa protozoa of the generaBabesia (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) andHepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae). A total of 115 hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) were collected from 17 host individuals obtained from four Brazilian states. Two species of tick were identified:Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 (four larvae, 16 nymphs, 40 adults), andAmblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844 (12 nymphs, 43 adults).Rickettsia bellii was found inA.  rotundatum andA.  dissimile ticks andRickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi,Anaplasma‐like andHepatozoon sp. inA.  dissimile ticks. Among the tested ticks, no DNA ofBorrelia,Bartonella,Coxiella orBabesia was found. The present findings extend the geographic range ofRickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi in Brazil and provide novel tick –host associations.
Source: Medical and Veterinary Entomology - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research