Comparing feeding and reproductive parameters of Amblyomma parvum tick populations (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil and Argentina on various host species.

GERARDI M, MARTINS MM, NAVA S, SZABÓ MPJ. 2013.

VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 197 p. 312 - 317

0304-4017

tAmblyomma parvum is a Neotropical tick that is widely spread and a potential vector ofpathogens, including Rickettsiae. Genetic differences are remarkable between A. parvumpopulations from Brazil and Argentina. In this work, feeding and reproduction parametersof A. parvum ticks from these two populations were compared on some key host species toevaluate possible differences in host suitability between them. On the whole parametersof these tick populations were similar when fed on the same host and varied similarly ondifferent host species. Still, bovines were more suitable host for Argentinian larvae than forBrazilian cohorts. It was observed that guinea pigs were the best host A. parvum immaturesfrom both origins, as depicted from higher recovery rate of larvae and heavier engorgednymph weights. Canids and bovids were host species most suitable to adults of both tickpopulations as shown by the highest number of larvae produced by adult females thatengorged on these hosts. Taken together, results showed that in spite of the genetic diver-gence, A. parvum from Argentina and Brazil have similar biological performance on varioushost species.Amblyomma parvum is a Neotropical tick that is widely spread and a potential vector ofpathogens, including Rickettsiae. Genetic differences are remarkable between A. parvumpopulations from Brazil and Argentina. In this work, feeding and reproduction parametersof A. parvum ticks from these two populations were compared on some key host species toevaluate possible differences in host suitability between them. On the whole parametersof these tick populations were similar when fed on the same host and varied similarly ondifferent host species. Still, bovines were more suitable host for Argentinian larvae than forBrazilian cohorts. It was observed that guinea pigs were the best host A. parvum immaturesfrom both origins, as depicted from higher recovery rate of larvae and heavier engorgednymph weights. Canids and bovids were host species most suitable to adults of both tickpopulations as shown by the highest number of larvae produced by adult females thatengorged on these hosts. Taken together, results showed that in spite of the genetic diver-gence, A. parvum from Argentina and Brazil have similar biological performance on varioushost species.