Sigmodontinae rodents as hosts for larvae and nymphs of Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae)

NAVA, S.; LARESCHI, M.; BELDOMENICO, P.M.; ZERPA, C.; VENZAL, J.M.; MANGOLD, A.J.; GUGLIELMONE, A.A.

PARASITE-JOURNAL DE LA SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE PARASITOLOGIE

Año: 2004 vol. 11 p. 411 - 414

1252-607X

Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 ticks were collected from Sigmodontinae Wagner, 1843 rodents in central and northern Argentina and Uruguay. A total of 100 larvae and 38 nymphs of I. loricatus were collected on Akodon Meyen, 1833 (n= 36 individuals), Calomys Waterhouse, 1837 (n= 2), Oligoryzomys Bang, 1900 (n= 12), Oxymycterus Waterhouse, 1837 (n= 9) and Scapteromys Waterhouse, 1837 (n= 13). Seventy two larvae and 18 nymphs were collected on Akodon. Adults of I. loricatus were found in central Argentina and Uruguay on Didelphimorphia of the genus Didelphis Linnaeus, 1758 and Lutreolina Thomas, 1910. Ixodes loricatus has been considered a species with strict-total specificity to Didelphimorphia. Our results show that this statement may not be justified. Sigmodontinae rodents are sympatric and share habitats with the phylogenetically distant Didelphimorphia; infestation with I. loricatus seems to be its consequence. We tentatively consider I. loricatus moderately specific to Didelphimorphia