RICKETTSIAL INFECTION IN TICKS FROM WILD BIRDS FROM SAVANNAH AND PANTANAL REGION OF MATO GROSSO.
Autor(es): DIRCEU GUILHERME DE SOUZA RAMOS, LETICIA BORGES PINTO, ALVAIR DA SILVA ALVES, ANDRÉIA LIMA TOMÉ MELO, THÁBATA DOS ANJOS PACHECO, ISIS ASSIS BRAGA, MAHAL M. EVANGELISTA, THIAGO F. MARTINS, MARCELO BAHIA LABRUNA, RICHARD DE CAMPOS PACHECO
RICKETTSIAL INFECTION IN TICKS FROM WILD BIRDS FROM SAVANNAH AND PANTANAL REGION OF MATO GROSSO.
» Área de pesquisa: ACAROLOGIA
» Instituição: UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MATO GROSSO
» Agência de fomento e patrocinadores: CAPES, FAPEMAT, SESC PANTANAL, INAU
The involvement of different species of ticks and wild animals, such as birds, play an important role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. Birds may serve as reservoirs for some tick-borne diseases, and may carry and spread hematophagous ectoparasites mechanically. This study aimed to verify the diversity of ticks on birds and molecular detection of rickettsial infection from Pantanal and Cerrado, two similar biomes characterized by hydrological seasons. During September 2012 to February 2014, 627 birds of 110 species and 26 families, were captured by mist nets in 11 campaigns, distributed in all hydrological seasons. In total, 69 birds were parasitized (11%), and 153 ticks were collected and identified as: larvae of Ornithodoros mimon (1.3%) and Amblyomma spp. (49%); nymphs of A. nodosum (15.7%), A. cajennense (15%), A. calcaratum (10.5%), A. longirostre (6.6%) and A. ovale (1.3%); and an adult of A. cajennense (0.6%) found in a Turdus subalaris. Twenty new occurrences of hosts to ticks species was reported. Ticks from birds were individually subjected to DNA extraction and submitted to PCR test and 3 ticks were positive to spotted fever group (SFG) agents Ca. Rickettsia amblyiommii (2 A. longirostre) and R. parkeri NOD (1 A. nodosum). These SFG agents were reported in ticks from birds previously, however this the first time that was reported in tick from birds captured in Pantanal and Cerrado biomes. This finding is important as it demonstrates the presence of SFG agents, although not fully pathogenic known.
