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We report ectoparasites found on humans and wildlife from different locations in southeastern Brazil. Ectoparasites were stored in 70% alcohol and visually identified under a stereo microscope with the help of identification keys. Genomic DNA of ticks was extracted and used in the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Sixteen species of ectoparasites (six ticks, one louse, four fleas, four flies, and one bedbug) were identified on ten host species, including humans, other mammals, and birds. We report the first record of the parasitism of Amblyomma longirostre on Didelphis aurita, Microlynchia pussila on Turdus leucomelas, Ornithoica vicina and Ornithocoris pallidus on Psittacara leucophthalmus and O. pallidus on Homo sapiens. In addition, we also report the first record of O. vicina in the state of Minas Gerais and the infection by Rickettsia sp. in Amblyomma varium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are ectoparasites arthropods distributed worldwide that can parasitize a wide range of animals, transmitting pathogens such as bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and viruses to the host. The species that parasitize domestic animals are the most studied due to their sanitary importance, but little is known about most of the tick species that parasitize wild animals. The aim of this study was to report the occurrence of the genus Amblyomma infesting vine-snake (Chironius bicarinatus), bentinho's sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) and puma (Puma concolor) in a zoo in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Larvae of Amblyomma as well as adult specimens of A. ovale, A. varium and A. gaeyi were identified. This is the first report of specimens of Amblyomma spp. parasitizing C. bicarinatus with a new geographic distribution for the species. The scarcity of reports of this nature highlights the need for further studies on the distribution of these arthropods in different regions and host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Wild boars have recently been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks, which are essential for Rickettsia spp. transmission. Consequently, wild boar hunting may increase the risk of tick exposure and subsequent human tick-borne infection and disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for ticks and Rickettsia spp. exposure in wild boars, hunting dogs, and hunters in Brazilian biomes. Materials and Methods: The statistical relationship of Rickettsia spp. antibodies were evaluated using the Chi-square test in 80 wild boars, 170 hunting dogs, and 49 hunters. Results: The only statistically significant difference in seropositivity found in this study was between male and female wild boars (p=0.034), probably associated with in-park exposure to Amblyomma brasiliense infected with Rickettsia spp. Conclusion: The absence of statistical differences in the associated risk factors for hunting dogs and hunters may indicate a random exposure to Rickettsia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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From May to September 2011, a total of 138 wild rodents of the Cricetidae family were collected in the cities of Anhembi, Bofete and Torre de Pedra, in São Paulo State. All animals were examined for the presence of ticks, which were collected and identified at species level in the laboratory by morphological examination (for adults, nymphs and larvae) and molecular biology, by sequencing of a fragment of the 16S mitochondrial rDNA (for larvae). A total of 47 ticks (21 larvae and 26 nymphs) were collected from rodents, identified as 21 larvae and 23 nymphs of Amblyomma ovale (collected on Oligoryzomys nigripes, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Sooretamys agouya and Nectomys squamipes), two nymphs of Ixodes schulzei (O. nigripes and O. flavescens) and an Amblyomma sculptum nymph in S. agouya. The overall prevalence of parasitism by A. ovale was 4.3% for larvae, and 10.1% for nymphs. The mean intensity of parasitism was 3.5 larvae/ parasitized animal, and 1.6 nymphs/parasitized animal. One O. nigripes was found parasitized by both larva and nymph of A. ovale, and another O. nigripes was parasitized simultaneously by an I. schulzei nymph and five A. ovale nymphs. This research reports the following unpublished records: A. ovale on O. flavescens, O. nigripes and S. agouya; A. sculptum on S. agouya; and I. schulzei on O. flavescens and O. nigripes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This researchreports ticks on wild mammals from the Serra da Canastra National Park and surrounding areas, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. From July 2005 to June 2014, 58 larvae, 133 nymphs and 43 adult ticks were collected in 40 capture events of free-living mammals at the Park and surrounding areas. The tick species Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844, Dermacentor nitens Neumann, 1897, and Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) were identified on hosts of the order Carnivora. Specimens of Amblyomma pseudoconcolor Aragão, 1908 and A. sculptum were identified on the hosts of the order Xenarthra. We provide the first records of D. nitens and R. microplus ticks parasitizing Lycalopex vetulus, and A. ovale on Leopardus tigrinus in Brazil. The findings of this research indicate the sharing of environment by domestic and wild animals caused by agricultural expansion in the Brazilian landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Veterinary Science is the property of Archives of Veterinary Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Since the first reports of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, the disease has spread worldwide. Different social isolation strategies have been adopted to reduce community transmission, but few studies have evaluated the pattern of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection in a family cluster during periods of isolation. We report an outbreak in 24 members of a family cluster during a period of social distancing. Methodology: We carried out an observational descriptive study of a family cluster infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Laboratory confirmation included RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal samples or IgM or IgG serology. Results: The attack rates were 75% (19/24) based on laboratory-confirmed cases and 87.5% (21/24) including probable cases. The time of spread was 17 days from the first case. All patients had mild symptoms, requiring no hospitalization, and none of them died. The frequency of symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed patients was higher among adults (94%) than among children (50%); the paediatric age group also had a higher frequency of exposed individuals who remained negative for infection. Ground-glass opacities on chest computed tomography were present in all patients with reported dyspnoea. Conclusion: This study highlights a high risk of intrahousehold transmission from an index case, suggesting the need for (I) specific guidelines during periods of social distancing, (II) minimization of external exposures and, above all, (III) adoption of strict quarantine measures for suspected cases and family members to prevent outbreaks from spreading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are known worldwide for parasitizing a number of wild hosts. However, few studies have been conducted on ticks in zoos in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to collect, identify, and report the parasitic tick fauna found on wild Amazon animals received and attended at the Santarém Zoological Park from September 2004 to September 2013. In all, 56 animals, including 26 mammals and 30 reptiles, were sampled, from which 1172 ticks were collected and identified, comprising 862 adults, 284 nymphs, and 26 larvae. Nymphs of Amblyomma geayi on three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), adults of Amblyomma longirostre on black dwarf porcupine (Coendou nycthemera), and nymphs of Amblyomma naponense on southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) were identified for the first time in the country in the present study. Although, the North region is the largest among the five Brazilian regions, this is the first study conducted with ticks and animals attended in a zoo in the Brazilian Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the biology and ecology of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) have increased considerably during the past few years. However, information on epidemiologic aspects of this species is still scarce in the literature. A series of helminthes were recorded parasitizing giant otters, but they were all endoparasites. To date, there is no record of ectoparasites reported for this species. In the present study, we report for the first time the occurrence of a tick nymph of the morphospecies Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto (s.s.) attached to the lower right lip of a free-ranging giant otter. The location where the tick was attached suggests that other areas of the giant otter body far from the head would preclude hematophagy due to the amount of time otters spend in the water while swimming and feeding. Increased records of A. cajennense s.s. parasitizing different hosts in the Amazon basin will contribute to future molecular analysis and to a better taxonomic and geographic knowledge of this species of the Brazilian Amazon, as well as to a better knowledge of the epidemiologic aspects of the endangered giant otter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein describe ticks parasitizing birds in forest fragments along the Uberabinha River, a major watercourse that cuts through patches of remnants of Brazilian savannah in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Overall 352 birds from 62 species, overwhelmingly, Passeriformes, were captured with mist-nets. The most abundant bird species was Basileuterus hypoleucus (n=36), followed by Lanio penicillata (n=24) and Thalurania furcata (n=23). Thirty one birds, all Passeriformes, were found infested with 56 ticks from which 12 were larvae and 44 nymphs, all from the Amblyomma genus. Highest infestation prevalence was found on Taraba major (66.6%), Thamnophilus pelzeni (60%) and Saltator maximus (50%). The mean intensity of tick infestation was low (1.8 tick per infested bird) with most of the parasites located on the neck (60%) of birds, followed by the head (20%). All larvae were attached to the skin around the eyes of birds. Amblyomma nodosum was the most numerous tick species found attached to birds (n=23 nymphs, 52.3% of nymphs) followed by Amblyomma longirostre (n=5, 11.4% of nymphs). Ecological relationships are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]