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Pour la première fois, les 12 espèces actuellement décrites dans le genre Tunga sont étudiées sur le plan de la taxonomie et de la répartition. Divers aspects de leur biologie et leur rôle pathogène sont également envisagés, et en particulier leur phylogénie, leur chorologie, leur phénologie, leur sexe-ratio et leurs dermecos.

Tunga libis a été à tort signalée du Chili par Smit (1968). Il s’agit en fait d’une espèce nouvelle, relativement peu rare, que nous décrivons ici. Non seulement les individus libres sont connus dans les deux sexes, mais également les femelles enkystées ou néosomiques. Des données sont apportées sur divers aspects de sa biologie. Nous pensons que ces apports seront utilisables pour affiner nos connaissances sur les autres Tunga, en particulier la capture des mâles, toujours rares, voire inconnus.

Mesocestoides is a controversial tapeworm with significant lack of data related to systematics and life cycles. This helminth has an indirect life cycle with vertebrates, mostly carnivorous mammals, as definitive hosts. Theoretically, a coprophagous arthropod would be the first intermediate host, and herptiles, mammals, and birds, which prey on these insects, would represent the second intermediate hosts. However, recent evidence suggests that this life cycle would require only two hosts, with no arthropods involved. In the Neotropics, although there are records of mammals and reptiles as hosts for Mescocestoides , no molecular analyses have been performed. This work aimed to record an additional intermediate host and molecularly characterize the isolated larvae. Thus, 18 braided tree iguanas (Liolaemus platei) from Northern Chile were collected and dissected during 2019. One lizard was parasitized by three morphotypes of larvae compatible with tetrathyridia of Mescocestoides. To achieve its specific identity, a molecular approach was performed: 18S rRNA and 12S rRNA loci were amplified through cPCR. The inferred phylogenies confirmed the morphological diagnosis and stated that all morphotypes were conspecifics. The sequences for both loci formed a monophyletic clade with high nodal support, representing a sister taxon to Mescocestoides clade C. This study represents the first molecular characterization of any taxon of Mescocestoides from the Neotropics. Future surveys from potential definitive hosts would help to elucidate its life cycle. Furthermore, an integrative taxonomic approach is required in additional studies from the Neotropical region, which would contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary relationships of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft ticks (Argasidae) of the subgenus Pavlovskyella Pospelova-Shtrom are worldwide distributed parasites of medical importance. However, the systematics of the subgenus are currently under debate because genetic data shows that the group is paraphyletic. Meanwhile, species of Pavlovskyella continue to be discovered. In this study a novel species of the subgenus is described from specimens collected on a fox in central Chile. The larva of this new species differentiates from other Pavlovskyella spp. by having the following combination of characters: subpyriform dorsal plate; 15 pairs of setae, 7 anterolateral, 3 central, and 5 posterolateral, and hypostome with denticles in the distal third. Nymphs and adults of the species lack cheeks, eyes or bulging structures on the flank, but exhibit dorsoventral grooves, and humps on tarsi I, II, and III. Moreover, a patch of glabrous integument appears on the distal portion of coxal folds. A phylogenetic analysis using the mitogenome indicates a monophyletic group composed by Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) brasiliensis Aragão, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) furcosus Neumann, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) improvisus Muñoz-Leal & Venzal, and Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) rostratus Aragão. Interestingly, a phylogeny using 18S-28S rDNA sequences shows that South American Pavlovskyella spp. are paraphyletic, as depicted in previous studies. Adding species of the subgenus from the Neotropical region to phylogenetic analyses could aid to solve this paraphyly. Furthermore, this is the fifth species of Pavlovskyella described in South America, and the second in Chile., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

SUMMARYLyme borreliosis or Lyme disease is the most frequently reported tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. In countries of the Southern Hemisphere, such as Brazil, since the early 1990s, some researchers have argued for the existence of an autochthonous Lyme-like borreliosis, known locally as the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), an alleged "Brazilian borreliosis" supposedly caused by a different strain of Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by hard ticks. Currently, the existence of BYS in Brazil is still accepted by a large part of the human health care workers, scientists, medical societies, and patients. In fact, this alleged "Brazilian borreliosis" has been the tick-borne zoonotic disease with the greatest number of reported cases and published studies in Brazil during this century, second only to Brazilian spotted fever. In this manuscript, we reviewed all manuscripts directly related to BYS that have been published in Brazil during the last 35 years. This analysis included 199 individual human cases that have been reported in Brazil since 1989, plus multiple studies on ticks, domestic, and wild animals. Our revision aimed to provide a critical opinion on whether the current published works allow healthcare workers, public health agencies, and patients to accept the existence of Lyme disease, BYS, or other Lyme borreliosis-related disease in Brazil. For this purpose, we evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of each published study, considering the diagnostic methods used, such as serological, microbiological, and molecular analyses. Based on these evaluations, we conclude that there is not enough evidence to support the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in Brazil or that BYS (Brazilian Lyme-like disease) is caused by a bacterium of the genus Borrelia . This assumption is based on the inaccuracy, unreliability, and misinterpretation of the different diagnostic methods that have been used in Brazil. Recognizing the lack of technical evidence for the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in Brazil has highly relevant implications. For example, it becomes imperative to raise awareness among the country's medical profession, as they have adopted unnecessary and extreme therapies recommended for patients with a supposed borrelial infection, including BYS, in Brazil. Finally, the technical analyses carried out in this study could be applied to other countries in the Southern Hemisphere ( e.g. , Argentina, South Africa, Australia), where cases classified and alleged as Lyme disease have been reported.

The genus Ornithodoros is notably diverse within the family Argasidae, comprising approximately 134 species distributed among 4 subgenera, 1 of which is the subgenus Pavlovskyella . In an earlier study, we identified distinct soft ticks as Ornithodoros ( Pavlovskyella ) sp., which were collected from animal shelters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Providing additional collections from that same locality and a comprehensive analysis involving detailed morphological and mitogenome-based comparisons with closely related species, this study formally designates a novel species for these specimens. Adults and late-instar nymphs of the new species display a dorsoventral groove, small cheeks not covering the capitulum, 5 small even humps on tarsus I and a transverse postanal groove intersecting the median postanal groove perpendicularly. It also lacks a tuft of setae on the ventral surface of the hood which separates the novel species from Ornithodoros papillipes . Ventral chaetotaxy of tarsus IV indicates 4–7 setal pairs in nymphs and 5–7 pairs in adults that separate the new species from Ornithodoros tholozani sensu stricto and Ornithodoros crossi , 2 morphologically closely related species that occur in geographical proximity. Phylogenetic analyses of the full-length mitochondrial genome and the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA genes, combined with pairwise nucleotide comparisons of cox1 , cox2 , atp8 , atp6 , cox3 , nad3 , nad5 , nad4 , nad4L , nad6 , cytb , nad1 , nad2 , 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA further support that the new species belongs to the Pavlovskyella subgenus, clustering with O. tholozani , Ornithodoros verrucosus and Ornithodoros tartakovskyi .

There is limited knowledge about tick diversity in the Amazon region. Here, we survey small terrestrial mammals for tick infestation at the Rio Pardo settlement, Amazonas State, Brazil. Sampling included rainy and dry seasons and four ecotones (primary forest, forest in regeneration, field crops and households). Each animal was inspected for ticks, which, if present, were placed in 70% alcohol and identified. Parasitological indexes were calculated and the presence/absence of ticks on hosts was tested for possible associations with independent variables (ecotone, host sex, host order, host family, host age and season). A total of 208 small mammals were captured, 47 individuals (10 species) in the primary forest, 124 (15 species) in the forest in regeneration, 11 (7 species) in the field crops, and 26 (4 species) in the households. A total of 14 small mammals were infested by ticks (overall prevalence: 6.7%; 95% CI: 3.72 - 11.04%), which consisted of 51 specimens that were identified into four species, as follows: Amblyomma humerale (32 nymphs); Ixodes luciae (6 females); Amblyomma coelebs (1 nymph); and Ornithodoros mimon (1 larva). In addition, 11 larvae were retained as Amblyomma spp. Only host order showed association (P = 0.002) with tick infestation, with marsupials 5.5 times more infested than rodents. Our record of O. mimon on D. marsupialis is the first on this host species, and the first record of a Argasidae tick in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that actively screened free-living terrestrial small mammals and provided data on prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of tick infestations in the Brazilian Amazonas state., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Syngamid worms (Nematoda: Syngamidae) parasitizing birds of prey are considered cosmopolitan, but the efforts to understand their biology and systematics are restricted to the Holarctic region. However, in the Neotropical region there is only one recent record with no data about its molecular characterization or its significance to the health of its hosts. Thus, this study aimed to identify through an integrative approach the Syngamid worms parasitizing a native owl, and to describe its pathological consequences. A total of 14 barn owls (Tyto alba) were dissected between 2015 and 2021, from which one bird was found to be parasitized by a high parasitic burden (i.e. 185 worms). Considering light microscopy and SEM, these nematodes were morphologically identified as Cyathostoma americana, and then supported through molecular analyses of nuclear loci ITS and LSU. The pathological changes were described as severe airsacculitis and pneumonia, which probably were the cause of death of the bird. This study represents the first effort to characterize the parasitism by this nematode in a nocturnal bird of prey from the Neotropics, with a lethal outcome. Additional studies are required from other geographical areas and Neotropical countries to better understand the dynamics of this parasite and their hosts, considering both diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Accumulation of DNA sequence data and its use in systematics of the family Argasidae reveals new incongruencies between genera and subgenera, since several groups defined by classical taxonomy appear to be paraphyletic, which is the case of the subgenus Pavlovskyella. In order to identify morphological characters unique to one of the monophyletic groupings within Pavlovskyella and improve its system, we describe all active stages of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) tartakovskyi, a species with an incomplete original description. Larvae, nymphs, males and females from Iran were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The larva of O. (P.) tartakovskyi lacks dorsal plate, posteromedian seta, postcoxal setae and a spinose area in palpal article I; the dorsal surface has 13 pairs of setae and the hypostome has two short rows of denticles in the apex only. The first nymphal instar (N1) has a micromammillated body with faint dorsal and ventral disks. The second nymphal instar (N2) shows mammillated body with an incipient hood, and dorsal disks outlined as in subsequent instars. Both N1 and N2 have a small patch of glabrous surface in the anterior margin of preanal groove, absent in posterior stages. Third nymphal instar (N3) has a small hood and lack cheeks, which are incipient in the fourth nymphal instar (N4). The four nymphal instars (N1-N4) have blunt hypostomes, striated capitula, non-mammillated legs, and 3 humps on tarsi I. Females and males of O. (P.) tartakovskyi have mammillated bodies, small cheeks not covering the capitulum, the anteromedian disk is placed anteriorly to anterior central disks, and a posterior median file of disks is merged with the median disk. We describe all postembryonic stages of O. (P.) tartakovskyi providing morphological characters that define Pavlovskyella sensu stricto and Theriodoros, a sister subgenus that includes similarly shaped species., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Tick-borne diseases are important for animal and human health, because they can cause death if not diagnosed and treated early. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) can cause high morbidity in dog populations. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is among the most virulent infectious in humans; dogs are also susceptible to infection. The aims of this study were to evaluate the presence of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp. infections in domestic dogs, and to identify tick species parasitizing dogs among urban areas of two municipalities (Sobral and Alcântaras) in the Ceará State, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 208 domiciled dogs was sampled. After clinical evaluation, blood samples and ticks were collected and submitted to Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) targeting E. canis DNA. Serum samples were screened by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assays (IFA) for antibodies against different strains of Rickettsia spp. previously recognized in Brazil. The results of this study indicate the molecular detection of E. canis in the state of Ceará, Brazil, where the proportion of canine infection in Sobral (9.9%) was higher than in Alcântaras (5.6%). Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was the prevalent tick species infesting the dogs in both municipalities (43.5 and 53.3%, respectively). Our serological results indicate that dogs of the study area were at low risk of exposure to these tick-borne Rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group. Our study offers epidemiological data of these diseases to better understanding Rickettsiales epidemic and enzootic cycles in the Brazilian semiarid region, improving prevention and control measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There were no conflicting interests that could have influenced the conduction of this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites involved in transmitting viruses of public health importance. The objective of this work was to identify the Jingmen tick virus in hard ticks from the Colombian Caribbean, an arbovirus of importance for public health., Methods: Ticks were collected in rural areas of Córdoba and Cesar, Colombia. Taxonomic identification of ticks was carried out, and pools of 13 individuals were formed. RNA extraction was performed. Library preparation was performed with the MGIEasy kit, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) with MGI equipment. Bioinformatic analyses and taxonomic assignments were performed using the Galaxy platform, and phylogenetic analyses were done using IQ-TREE2., Results: A total of 766 ticks were collected, of which 87.33% (669/766) were Rhipicephalus microplus, 5.4% (42/766) Dermacentor nitens, 4.2% (32/766) Rhipicephalus linnaei, and 3.0% (23/766) Amblyomma dissimile. Complete and partial segments 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) were detected in the metatranscriptome of the species R. microplus, D. nitens, and A. dissimile. The JMTVs detected are phylogenetically related to JMTVs detected in Aedes albopictus in France, JMTVs detected in R. microplus in Trinidad and Tobago, JMTVs in R. microplus and A. variegatum in the French Antilles, and JMTVs detected in R. microplus in Colombia. Interestingly, our sequences clustered closely with JMTV detected in humans from Kosovo., Conclusions: JMTV was detected in R. microplus, D. nitens, and A. dissimile. JMTV could pose a risk to humans. Therefore, it is vital to establish epidemiological surveillance measures to better understand the possible role of JMTV in tropical diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to detect, isolate and to characterize by molecular methods a relapsing fever group (RFG) Borrelia in white-eared opossums ( Didelphis albiventris ) from Brazil. During 2015-2018, when opossums ( Didelphis spp.) were captured in six municipalities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, molecular analyses revealed the presence of a novel RFG Borrelia sp. in the blood of seven opossums ( Didelphis albiventris ), out of 142 sampled opossums (4.9% infection rate). All seven infected opossums were from a single location (Ribeirão Preto municipality). In a subsequent field study in Ribeirão Preto during 2021, two new opossums ( D. albiventris ) were captured, of which one contained borrelial DNA in its blood. Macerated tissues from this infected opossum were inoculated into laboratory animals (rodents and rabbits) and two big-eared opossums ( Didelphis aurita ), which had blood samples examined daily via dark-field microscopy. No spirochetes were visualized in the blood of the laboratory animals. Contrastingly, spirochetes were visualized in the blood of the two D. aurita opossums between 12 and 25 days after inoculation. Blood samples from these opossums were used for a multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) based on six borrelial loci. Phylogenies inferred from MLST genes positioned the sequenced Borrelia genotype into the RFG borreliae clade basally to borreliae of the Asian-African group, forming a monophyletic group with another Brazilian isolate, " Candidatus B. caatinga". Based on this concatenated phylogenetic analysis, which supports that the new borrelial isolate corresponds to a putative new species, we propose the name " Candidatus Borrelia mimona"., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Relative to the numerous studies focused on mammalian schistosomes, fewer include avian schistosomatids particularly in the southern hemisphere. This is changing and current research emerging from the Neotropics shows a remarkable diversity of endemic taxa. To contribute to this effort, nine ducks ( Spatula cyanoptera , S. versicolor , Netta peposaca ), 12 swans ( Cygnus melancoryphus ) and 1,400 Physa spp. snails from Chile and Argentina were collected for adults and larval schistosomatids, respectively. Isolated schistosomatids were preserved for morphological and molecular analyses ( 28S and COI genes). Four different schistosomatid taxa were retrieved from birds: Trichobilharzia sp. in N. peposaca and S. cyanoptera that formed a clade; S. cyanoptera and S. versicolor hosted Trichobilharzia querquedulae ; Cygnus melancoryphus hosted the nasal schistosomatid, Nasusbilharzia melancorhypha ; and one visceral, Schistosomatidae gen. sp., which formed a clade with furcocercariae from Argentina and Chile from previous work. Of the physid snails, only one from Argentina had schistosomatid furcocercariae that based on molecular analyses grouped with T. querquedulae. This study represents the first description of adult schistosomatids from Chile as well as the elucidation of the life cycles of N. melancorhypha and T. querquedulae in Chile and Neotropics, respectively. Without well-preserved adults, the putative new genus Schistosomatidae gen. sp. could not be described, but its life cycle involves Chilina spp. and C. melancoryphus. Scanning electron microscopy of T. querquedulae revealed additional, undescribed morphological traits, highlighting its diagnostic importance. Authors stress the need for additional surveys of avian schistosomatids from the Neotropics to better understand their evolutionary history.

The chewing louse genus Eutrichophilus Mjöberg has 19 species only associated with porcupines (Rodentia: Erethizontidae). Of these species, E. cercolabes, E. cordiceps, E. emersoni, E. minor, E. moojeni, and E. paraguayensis have been recorded in Brazil. In the present study, we report E. cordiceps for the first time in the São Paulo State (Bauru Municipality) and for the second time in the Santa Catarina State (Lages Municipality), providing scanning electron images and light microscopy for the eggs, as well as the first molecular data (18S rRNA) for the genus. Additionally, Bartonella sp. was detected for the first time in this chewing lice species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tick-borne infectious agents (TBIAs) include several bacteria and protozoa that can infect vertebrates, including humans. Some of these agents can cause important diseases from both a public health perspective, such as Lyme disease, and from an animal health and production viewpoint, such as Texas fever. In Chile, several studies have assessed the presence of tick-borne disease agents in vectors and mammal hosts, mainly in the northern regions, but few studies have assessed the presence of these agents in Central and Southern Chile. This study aimed to assess the presence of three groups of TBIAs- Borrelia , Anaplasmataceae , and Piroplasmida-in cricetid rodents of Central and Southern Chile. A total of 207 specimens from 13 localities between the O'Higgins and Los Lagos regions were captured. DNA was extracted from the liver and spleen, and subsequently underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification targeting the 16S rRNA, flaB , and 18S rRNA genes to detect DNA from Borrelia , Anaplasmataceae , and Piroplasmida, respectively. Although no DNA from these TBIAs was detected, the DNA extraction process was validated by optimal DNA purity ratios (an A260/A280 ratio within the 1.6-2.0 range) and successful internal control amplification in all samples. These results, in addition to findings from previous reports, suggest a very low prevalence of these TBIAs in the rodent population studied. Further research into the factors influencing the presence of these agents and their vectors will provide insight into the reasons underlying this low prevalence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ardila, Thomas, Santodomingo, Silva-de la Fuente, Muñoz-Leal, Landaeta-Aqueveque and Henríquez.)

In this study, we report soft ticks from bat-inhabiting caves in different areas of Brazil. From 2010 to 2019, we collected 807 tick specimens from nine caves located in four Brazilian states among two biomes. Ticks were morphologically identified as Antricola guglielmonei (282 specimens), Ornithodoros cavernicolous (260 specimens), and Ornithodoros fonsecai (265 specimens). Whereas A. guglielmonei was collected on bat guano in hot caves, O. cavernicolous and O. fonsecai were collected in cracks and crevices on the walls of cold caves, sometimes in the same chamber. Morphological identifications were corroborated by molecular and phylogenetic analyses inferred from tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene partial sequences. The sequences of A. guglielmonei, O. cavernicolous and O. fonsecai collected in this study clustered with conspecific GenBank sequences from different localities of Brazil. Remarkably, a clade containing 12 sequences of O. fonsecai was clearly bifurcated, denoting a degree of genetic divergence (up to 5 %) of specimens from Cerrado/Atlantic Forest biomes with the specimens from the Caatinga biome. To further evaluate this divergence, we performed morphometric analysis of the larval stage of different O. fonsencai populations by principal component analysis, which indicated that the larvae from Caatinga populations were generally smaller than the larvae from other biomes. Some of the present A. guglielmonei specimens were collected from the type locality of Antricola inexpectata. Comparisons of these specimens with the type specimens of A. inexpectata and A. guglielmonei indicated that they could not be separated by their external morphology. Hence, we are relegating A. inexpectata to a synonym of A. guglielmonei. This proposal is corroborated by our phylogenetic analysis., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas., Methods: Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research., Results: 11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network., Conclusions: Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites that can transmit to vertebrate hosts several pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Among these agents, some Borrelia species some Borrelia species cause disease in humans and other vertebrate hosts; therefore, they have medical and veterinary health importance. To gather additional information on Borrelia species in Brazil, the current study aimed to detect the presence of these species in Ornithodoros cavernicolous ticks collected in September 2019 from cement pipes that are used by bats as shelter in a farm located in the midwestern region of Brazil. DNA samples obtained from 18 specimens of O. cavernicolous were subjected of two polymerase chain reactions, targeting a segment of the Borrelia fla B gene. Of the samples tested, only one (6 %, 1/18) showed amplification. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA showed more than 97 % (293/300) identity with a sequence of a Borrelia sp. detected in blood collected from a bat from Macaregua Cave, Colombia, and more than 97 % (292/300) detected in lungs from vampire bats from northeastern Brazil. The deduced amino acid sequences were identical to each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences formed a group of Borrelia species (putatively associated with bats) that is closely related to sequences of Borrelia species of the Lyme borreliosis group. Further investigations should be carried out in order to determine whether the sequence of the Borrelia sp. we found belongs to a new taxon. It will also be of great importance to determine which vertebrate hosts, besides bats, O. cavernicolous ticks can parasitize in order to investigate whether the Borrelia sp. we found may be transmitted and cause disease to the other vertebrate hosts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

A significant gap in exposure data for most livestock and zoonotic pathogens is common for several Latin America deer species. This study examined the seroprevalence against 13 pathogens in 164 wild and captive southern pudu from Chile between 2011 and 2023. Livestock and zoonotic pathogen antibodies were detected in 22 of 109 wild pudus (20.18%; 95% CI: 13.34-29.18) and 17 of 55 captive pudus (30.91%; 95% CI: 19.52-44.96), including five Leptospira interrogans serovars (15.38% and 10.71%), Toxoplasma gondii (8.57% and 37.50%), Chlamydia abortus (3.03% and 12.82%), Neospora caninum (0.00% and 9.52%), and Pestivirus (8.00% and 6.67%). Risk factors were detected for Leptospira spp., showing that fawn pudu have statistically significantly higher risk of positivity than adults. In the case of T. gondii , pudu living in "free-range" have a lower risk of being positive for this parasite. In under-human-care pudu, a Pestivirus outbreak is the most strongly suspected as the cause of abortions in a zoo in the past. This study presents the first evidence of Chlamydia abortus in wildlife in South America and exposure to T. gondii , L. interrogans , and N. caninum in wild ungulate species in Chile. High seroprevalence of livestock pathogens such as Pestivirus and Leptospira Hardjo in wild animals suggests a livestock transmission in Chilean template forest.

Tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes of genus Borrelia thrive in enzootic cycles involving Ornithodoros spp. (Argasidae) mainly, and rodents. The isolation of these spirochetes usually involves a murine model in which ticks are fed and the spirochetes detected in blood several days later. Such an experiment also demonstrates that a given species of tick is competent in the transmission of the bacteria. Here, soft ticks Ornithodoros octodontus were collected in Northern Chile with the objective to experimentally determine its capacity to transmit a Borrelia sp. detected in a previous study. Two Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used to feed nymphs and adults of O. octodontus and the spirochetes in blood were inspected by dark-field microscopy and nested PCR. Although spirochetes were not seen in blood, DNA was detected in only one animal 11 days after the ticks were fed. Genetic sequences of Borrelia flaB, clpX, pepX, recG, rplB, and uvrA genes retrieved from DNA extraction of positive blood were employed to construct two phylogenetic analyses. On the one hand, the flaB tree showed the Borrelia sp. transmitted by O. octodontus clustering with Borrelia sp. Alcohuaz, which was previously detected in that same tick species. On the other hand, concatenated clpX-pepX-recG-rplB-uvrA demonstrated that the characterized spirochete branches together with "Candidatus Borrelia caatinga", a recently discovered species from Brazil. Based on the genetic profile presented in this study, the name "Candidatus Borrelia octodonta" is proposed for the species transmitted by O. octodontus. The fact that spirochetes were not observed in blood of guinea pigs, may reflect the occurrence of low spirochetemia, which could be explained because the susceptibility of infection varies depending on the rodent species that is used in experimental models. Although the vertebrate reservoir of "Ca. Borrelia octodonta" is still unknown, Octodon degus, a rodent species that is commonly parasitized by O. octodontus, should be a future target to elucidate this issue., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Introduction: Herpesvirus infections have been highlighted as emerging diseases affecting wildlife health and the conservation of several taxa. Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) are two viruses that infect wild ruminants. Nevertheless, epidemiological data on herpesviruses in South American wild ruminants are limited. An outbreak of caprine gammaherpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2) that recently was suspected as the cause of MCF in southern pudus ( Pudu puda ) prompted the need to conduct molecular screenings in Chilean cervids to understand the epidemiology of herpesviruses. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of herpesviruses in free-ranging cervids from Chile., Methods: Herpesvirus infection was assessed in antemortem blood samples ( n = 86) from pudus ( n = 81) and huemuls ( Hippocamelus bisulcus ) ( n = 5), as well as postmortem samples of spleen ( n = 24) and lung ( n = 3) from pudus, using a nested pan-herpesvirus PCR assay., Results: Combining all suitable sample types, DNA of pudu gammaherpesvirus-1 was detected in five pudues and five huemuls, with an overall prevalence of 9.90% ( n = 10/101; 95% CI = 5.11-17.87%). One pudu tested positive for ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 ( n = 1/96; 1.04%; 95% CI = 0.05-6.49%), and one pudu tested positive for a Macavirus sequence with 98.63 similarity to ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 ( n = 96; 1.04%; 95% CI = 0.05-6.49%)., Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a herpesvirus in huemul and of ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 in Chile. Our results also confirm the active circulation of herpesvirus in free-ranging cervids in Chilean Patagonia, and as such, MCF should be considered as a possible cause of disease in free-ranging Chilean pudus and livestock species. Further research is necessary to develop a plan of systematic monitoring (serological and pathological screening) of herpesviruses in Chilean wild and domestic ruminants to understand their diversity and impact on animal health and conservation., Competing Interests: EH-H and SV-C were employed by Fundacion Buin Zoo. RL was employed by Aumen ONG. VV-W and SC were employed by Parque Zoológico Buin Zoo. CS was employed by Oregon Zoo. AS, AC, and IB were employed by Corporacion Nacional Forestal. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hidalgo-Hermoso, Cabello, Lopez, Vergara-Wilson, Vera, Valencia, Sanchez, Celis, Silva, Cariñanos, Barria, Vicencio, Muñoz-Leal, Aravena, Lagos, Toro-Letelier, Verasay-Caviedes, Garnham, Peña, Sánchez, Moreira-Arce, Vergara, Alegria-Moran and Cortés-Hinojosa.)

Background: The genus Borrelia comprises pathogenic species of bacteria that pose a significant risk to public health. Borrelia spp. are emerging or reemerging infectious agents worldwide with complex transmission cycles, and many species use rodents as vertebrate reservoir hosts. Spirochetes morphologically compatible with Borrelia have been recurrently observed in opossums; however, there is currently a lack of genetic evidence confirming infection or supporting that these marsupials are hosts of Borrelia spirochetes., Methods: During 2017, 53 serum samples of Didelphis marsupialis from the municipality of Colosó (department of Sucre, Colombia) were collected and allocated in a serum bank. DNA extracted from the serum samples was submitted to a Borrelia genus-specific real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently derived from semi-nested PCR protocols to obtain large fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes. Obtained amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. One positive sample was randomly selected for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Obtained reads were mapped to genomes of Borrelia spp. and sequences of two genes used in a multilocus sequence typing scheme retrieved for taxonomic assignment and phylogenetic analyses., Results: Overall, 18.8% (10/53) of the samples were positive by qPCR. Of them, 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10) were positive for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes after semi-nested PCRs, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of one sample sequenced with NGS yielded 22 reads of genus Borrelia with different sizes. Two housekeeping genes, rplB and pyrG, were recovered. Nucleotide pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, flaB, rplB and pyrG genes showed that the Borrelia sp. found in opossums from Colosó corresponded to Borrelia puertoricensis., Conclusions: We describe the first molecular evidence to our knowledge of B. puertoricensis in Colombia, specifically in opossums, and the first detection of this spirochete in a vertebrate host since its isolation from Ornithodoros puertoricensis in Panama. This detection is also relevant because of the epidemiological importance of opossums as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases to humans., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Babesia spp. are tick-borne protozoans that involve birds and mammals in their transmission cycles and cause babesiosis, a severe hemolytic malaria-like disease. Opossums of the genus Didelphis are recognized hosts of tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, exploring tick-borne agents in Didelphis species is important to understand the circulation of pathogens in areas where opossums occur. In this study, we targeted Anaplasmataceae, Babesia, Borrelia and Hepatozoon DNA in ticks, blood and organ samples collected from three hunted Didelphis marsupialis specimens in eastern Guatemala. While the samples were negative for Hepatozoon and bacterial DNA, sequences of Babesia 18S rDNA, cox1 and cytb genes were retrieved from two opossums. Ticks collected on the animals included Amblyomma parvum and an undetermined Ornithodoros sp. The Babesia sp. detected in this study (Babesia sp. THB1-2) clusters phylogenetically within the "Western Babesia group", which includes pathogenic species such as Babesia conradae, Babesia duncani, and Babesia negevi. Our results represent the first record of a Babesia sp. in Guatemala and highlight the importance of D. marsupialis as potential spreaders of ticks and pathogens in Central America., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Soft ticks (Argasidae) of the Pavlovskyella Pospelova-Shtrom subgenus are important vectors of relapsing fever spirochetes, which are agents of disease globally. South American representatives of the Pavlovskyella subgenus include 3 species: Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) brasiliensis Aragão, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) furcosus Neumann, and Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) rostratus Aragão. Here, we describe a fourth species based on morphological and mitogenomic evidence of ticks collected in burrows of unknown hosts in central Chile. The larva of the new species separates from other South American soft ticks by the following combination of characters: 13 pairs of dorsolateral setae, dorsal plate hexagonal, hypostome blunt with denticles from apex almost to the base. Adults of this new species lack cheeks, possess a dorsoventral groove, and have humps, similar to O. (P.) brasiliensis; however, they lack bulging structures on the flanks of idiosoma. Moreover, females and males differ from O. (P.) rostratus by having 3 humps instead of spurs in tarsi I and from O. (P.) furcosus because of their smaller size and thinner anterior lip of the genital aperture in females. The phylogenetic analysis performed with mitogenomes of the Argasidae family depicts the new Pavlovskyella species from Chile in a monophyletic clade with other South American species in the subgenus, confirming a regional group., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The black-faced ibis, Theristicus melanopis, is considered a useful bird species for agricultural activity because it preys upon various invertebrate and vertebrate pests. Although it is a common species in Chile, limited information is available regarding its parasites. The main objective of this study was to recover the diversity of ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths in black-faced ibises living in the communes of Valdivia and Panguipulli, Los Ríos region. A total of 74 specimens were received for examination from the Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre at the Universidad Austral de Chile (CEREFAS-UACh), Valdivia, in 2011-2015. Black-faced ibises were externally inspected for ectoparasites by direct examining of the plumage, and necropsies were performed to examine digestive and respiratory organs in search of endoparasites. For each taxon, prevalence, mean intensity, mean abundance, and range of parasites per bird were estimated. Five species of ectoparasites and six species of helminths were identified. A total of 298 lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) belonging to four species were collected: Ardeicola melanopis (13.51%), Colpocephalum trispinum (20.27%), Ibidoecus fissisignatus (4.05%), and Plegadiphilus mamillatus (9.46%). In addition, one feather mite species, Diodochaetus melanopis (Acari: Pterolichoidea) (17.56%), was isolated. In 48 black-faced ibis (64.86%), a total of 1229 gastrointestinal helminths were found: two nematodes, Porrocaecum heteropterum (55.41%) and Baruscapillaria obsignata (24.32%); one tapeworm Eugonodaeum nasuta (20.27%); two digeneans, Echinoparyphium recurvatum (1.35%) and Strigea bulbosa (6.76%); and the acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris sp. (1.35%). The findings of the following parasites present new host-parasite associations: P. mamillatus, D. melanopis, B. obsignata, E. recurvatum, S. bulbosa, and Sphaerirostris sp. Additionally, the louse P. mamillatus, feather mite D. melanopis, platyhelminths E. nasuta, E. recurvatum and S. bulbosa, and the acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris sp. are new records for the fauna of Chile., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In Chile, studies of parasites from the family Sarcocystidae (Apicomplexa) have mostly been related to domestic animals. We aimed to assess the presence of Sarcocystidae taxa in cricetid rodents from Central and Southern Chile. We studied 207 rodents, encompassing six species, from 13 localities. We isolated DNA from tissue samples, amplified the Sarcocystidae 18S rRNA gene with polymerase chain reaction, and performed phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences. In addition, we examined blood smears and performed histological studies in organs from Sarcocystidae DNA-positive animals. Three specimens were DNA-positive and three genotypes were retrieved and named: Sarcocystis sp. P61, related to Sarcocystis strixi , was detected in two Abrothrix olivacea . Toxoplasmatinae gen. sp. P99 was retrieved from those same two specimens, and was related to Toxoplasma and other genera, although it branched independently. Besnoitia sp. R34 was detected in one Abrothrix hirta , and was clustered with congeneric species associated with rodents. No protozoa were found during microscopic studies; thus, it was not possible to confirm parasitic interactions rather than accidental encounters. However, the close relatedness of the retrieved genotypes to parasites of rodents supports the hypothesis of host-parasite associations. All three genotypes are suggested as potential new taxa, including a putative new genus.

Borrelia theileri is a relapsing fever group Borrelia that is transmitted to cattle by ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus. In this study, we describe the first molecular detection of B. theileri subclinical infection in a cow in Brazil. During the examination of stained blood smears of 10 cows from a farm with a recent history of fatal Trypanosoma vivax trypanosomiasis, spirochete-like structures were incidentally detected in one of the cows. The animal presented good body score, normal hematocrit and normal-colored ocular mucosa. Temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were all normal. The animal was infested by ticks, which were morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. The diagnosis was confirmed by testing DNA extracted from a blood sample using a PCR targeting a ≈ 650 bp fragment of the flagellin B (flaB) gene of Borrelia spp. The partial flaB sequence obtained showed 99.83% similarity with B. theileri. Phylogenetically, the flaB partial sequence generated herein clustered with other B. theileri sequences, being separated from B. lonestari. This is the first molecular detection of B. theileri subclinical infection in a cow in Brazil. The possible implications of this finding are discussed., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Human land use causes habitat loss and fragmentation, influencing host-parasite associations through changes in infestation rates, host mortality and possibly local extinction. Bat-ectoparasite interactions are an important host-parasite model possibly affected by such changes, as this system acts as both reservoirs and vectors of several pathogens that can infect different wild and domestic species. This study aimed to assess how the prevalence and abundance of bat ectoparasites respond to forest loss, fragmentation, and edge length. Bats and ectoparasites were sampled at twenty sites, forming a gradient of forest cover, in southwestern Brazil during two wet (2015 and 2016) and two dry (2016 and 2017) seasons. Effects of landscape metrics on host abundance as well as parasite prevalence and abundance were assessed through structural equation models. Nine host-parasite associations provided sufficient data for analyses, including one tick and eight flies on four bat species. Forest cover positively influenced the prevalence or abundance of three fly species, but negatively influenced one fly and the tick species. Prevalence or abundance responded positively to edge length for three fly species, and negatively for the tick. In turn, number of fragments influenced the prevalence or abundance of four fly species, two positively and two negatively. Our results support species-specific responses of ectoparasites to landscape features, and a tendency of host-generalist ticks to benefit from deforestation while most host-specialist flies are disadvantaged. Differences in host traits and abundance, along with parasite life cycles and environmental conditions, are possible explanations to our findings., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A large number of tick species are proven vectors for the transmission of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) in South America have been found to be the most frequent carriers of borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG); however, there are several information gaps specially on the taxonomy and distribution of some tick species. Here, we used light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene to evaluate 174 larvae of Ornithodoros (Argasidae) collected from three bat species (Eptesicus orinocensis, Molossus rufus and Noctilio albiventris) in the Orinoquia Region of Colombia. The morphological and molecular results confirmed that all the analyzed larvae corresponded to Ornithodoros hasei. Comparisons of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences showed low genetic divergence (0% - 0.3%) between larvae of the Department of Arauca in the Orinoquia Region and higher genetic divergence (3.4 - 4.7%) in sequences from other American countries. Our work represents the most recent collection of this species in Colombia and provides a molecular evaluation for the first time. Moreover, a new association of O. hasei with bats such as E. orinocensis is documented. Considering the wide distribution of O. hasei in the American Continent, and its putative role as vector for Borrelia, integrative studies that involve morphological, morphometric, molecular data and experimental crosses are needed to determine if the higher genetic distances are associated with cryptic speciation, as detected in other tick complexes, or represent genetic divergences among geographically different populations of O. hasei., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Tick-borne relapsing fever group (RFG) borreliosis remains neglected as a human disease and little is known on its maintenance in ticks and vertebrates, especially in South America. Therefore, this study investigated borrelial infection in Ornithodoros ticks collected in rodent-inhabited rock formations in the Brazilian semiarid region, within the Caatinga biome. Collected ticks ( Ornithodoros rietcorreai and Ornithodoros cf. tabajara ) were allowed to feed under laboratory conditions on guinea pigs, which had blood samples examined daily by dark-field microscopy. No spirochetes were visualized in the blood of any of four O. rietcorreai- infested guinea pigs. Contrastingly, spirochetes were visualized between 9 and 39 days after tick feeding in the blood of three guinea pigs, each infested with O. cf. tabajara ticks from a different locality. Guinea pig infection was confirmed by passages into experimental animals and by generating DNA sequences of Borrelia spp. from the blood of spirochetemic guinea pigs. Three O. cf. tabajara populations were infected by the same borrelial organism, which was characterized as a novel RFG agent (named as ' Candidatus Borrelia caatinga') based on 10 Borrelia loci ( rrs , flaB , glpQ , gyrB , clpX , pepX , pyrG , recG , rplB and uvrA ). We demonstrated that O. cf. tabajara is a competent vector of the novel Borrelia sp. isolates, although none of the infected rodents developed clinical illness.

Background: Deer species play an important role in the enzootic cycles of several Anaplasma species. While in the Northern Hemisphere ticks of genus Ixodes are well recognized vectors of these intracellular bacteria, less is known regarding the biological cycles of Anaplasma spp. in South America., Methods: Using PCR protocols and Sanger sequencing, we assessed the presence of Anaplasma spp. in blood and ticks collected on a native deer species (Pudu puda) from southern Chile., Results: Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, gltA and groEL genes and calculation of average sequence divergence for groEL, our results bring to light a novel genovariant of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (named strain "Patagonia"). The strain represents a novel ecotype within the A. phagocytophilum species complex and was detected in both P. puda and their ticks. Using a larger matrix, denser taxon sampling and outgroup, our maximum-likelihood- and Bayesian-inferred phylogenies for groEL provide an accurate picture of the topology of A. phagocytophilum ecotypes and their evolutionary relationships., Conclusions: This is the first report of an ecotype of A. phagocytophilum in South America. Our results provide novel insight into the genetic diversity and ecology of this complex of bacterial lineages. Further studies should elucidate the enzootic cycle of A. phagocytophilum strain "Patagonia" and assess its pathogenic potential for pudues, domestic animals and humans in the region., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The bacterial genus Borrelia comprises vector-borne spirochetes that have been classified into three major groups: the relapsing fever group (RFG), the Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner sensu lato group (Bbsl), and the reptile-monotreme group (RMG). All three groups have been associated mainly with ticks and wild animals, especially rodents, birds, and reptiles. Here, we searched for Borrelia infection among 99 vampire bats [Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy)] (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from the Brazilian semiarid region. Through molecular investigation of bat internal organs, haplotypes of a potentially novel Borrelia organism were detected in 5% (5/99) of the bats. Borrelia DNA was detected in the liver, blood, spleen, kidney and brain, suggesting a systemic infection. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from partial sequences of the borrelial rrs and flaB genes indicated that the vampire bat-associated Borrelia sp. of this study form a monophyletic group with a newly reported Borrelia associated with a Colombia bat, distinct from the three main currently recognized groups of Borrelia spp., Bbsl, RFG, and RMG. These novel bat-associated Borrelia spp. from South America might have arisen through an independent event along the borrelial evolutionary history, since previous molecular reports of Borrelia organisms in bats or bat-associated ticks from Africa, Europe, and North America were all classified in the RFG., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The genus Borrelia is composed of two well-defined monophyletic groups, the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bb) and the relapsing fever (RF) group borreliae. Recently, a third group, associated with reptiles and echidnas, has been described. In general, RF group borreliae use rodents as reservoir hosts; although neotropical bats may also be involved as important hosts, with scarce knowledge regarding this association. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA in bats from the department of Córdoba in northwest Colombia., Methods: During September 2020 and June 2021, 205 bats were captured in six municipalities of Córdoba department, Colombia. Specimens were identified using taxonomic keys and DNA was extracted from spleen samples. A Borrelia-specific real-time PCR was performed for the 16S rRNA gene. Fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes were amplified in the positive samples by conventional PCR. The detected amplicons were sequenced by the Sanger method. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed in IQ-TREE with maximum likelihood based on the substitution model TPM3+F+I+G4 with bootstrap values deduced from 1000 replicates., Results: Overall, 10.2% (21/205) of the samples were found positive by qPCR; of these, 81% (17/21) and 66.6% (14/21) amplified 16S rRNA and flaB genes, respectively. qPCR-positive samples were then subjected to conventional nested and semi-nested PCR to amplify 16S rRNA and flaB gene fragments. Nine positive samples for both genes were sequenced, and seven and six sequences were of good quality for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes, respectively. The DNA of Borrelia spp. was detected in the insectivorous and fruit bats Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Phyllostomus discolor, and Uroderma sp. The 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 97.66-98.47% identity with "Borrelia sp. clone Omi3," "Borrelia sp. RT1S," and Borrelia sp. 2374; the closest identities for the flaB gene were 94.02-98.04% with "Borrelia sp. Macaregua." For the 16S rRNA gene, the phylogenetic analysis showed a grouping with "Candidatus Borrelia ivorensis" and "Ca. Borrelia africana," and for the flaB gene showed a grouping with Borrelia sp. Macaregua and Borrelia sp. Potiretama. The pathogenic role of the Borrelia detected in this study is unknown., Conclusions: We describe the first molecular evidence of Borrelia spp. in the department of Córdoba, Colombia, highlighting that several bat species harbor Borrelia spirochetes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Chiggers are larval ectoparasites of the Trombiculidae that can transmit pathogens to their hosts. In this study, chiggers collected from birds in Brazil were morphologically identified as Blankaartia sinnamaryi, Eutrombicula batatas, Eutrombicula daemoni, Eutrombicula goeldii, Eutrombicula tinami, and Parasecia gilbertoi. For these specimens, a beginning attempt at molecular identification were also provided, as well as, were genetically screened to detect bacterial pathogens. The species B. sinnamaryi and E. tinami were positive for Rickettsia felis-like and 'Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi'-like, respectively. For the other agents (Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi), the tests were negative. This is the first report of 'Ca. R. colombianensi'-like and the second record of R. felis-like in chigger collected on birds from Brazil., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Three studies on the biology of Ornithodoros puertoricensis are available in the literature, using different hosts and incubation temperatures. In a previous study, we identified O. puertoricensis in the Colombian Caribbean. The aim of the present work was to analyze life cycle data along one generation from these specimens under laboratory conditions. Eggs of O. puertoricensis were collected in between fragments of bahareque material in a rural dwelling in the municipality of Planeta Rica (Córdoba Department, Colombia), and transported to the laboratory. All post-egg stages (i.e., larvae, nymphs, and adults) were incubated at 27 °C and 85% RH and fed on laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Sixteen engorged larvae were obtained to start a laboratory colony. Average feeding period for larvae was 4.6 days (4-5). The first nymphal instar (N1) did not require feeding and the subsequent nymphal stages (N2, N3, and N4) and adults had feeding periods ranging from 55 to 75 min. Average pre-molting period in nymphs was 15 days (10-21). Most of the N3 molted to males and all N4 molted to females. Two gonotrophic cycles were recorded: the first had a preoviposition period of 12 days (7-18) and produced 190 eggs (171-223), the second lasted 6.6 days (6-7) and produced 146 eggs (104-201). The mean life cycle duration (from parental eggs to F1 eggs) was 70.7 days (58.7-82.7) without fasting periods. The collected data agree with previous studies even with differences in hosts and maintenance conditions., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has proven to be important for the taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics of ticks. However, current methods to generate mitogenomes can be cost-prohibitive at scale. To address this issue, we developed a cost-effective approach to amplify and sequence the whole mitogenome of individual tick specimens. Using two different primer sites, this approach generated two full-length mitogenome amplicons that were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies' Mk1B sequencer. We used this approach to generate 85 individual tick mitogenomes from samples comprised of the three tick families, 11 genera, and 57 species. Twenty-six of these species did not have a complete mitogenome available on GenBank prior to this work. We benchmarked the accuracy of this approach using a subset of samples that had been previously sequenced by low-coverage Illumina genome skimming. We found our assemblies were comparable or exceeded the Illumina method, achieving a median sequence concordance of 99.98%. We further analyzed our mitogenome dataset in a mitophylogenomic analysis in the context of all three tick families. We were able to sequence 72 samples in one run and achieved a cost/sample of ~ $10 USD. This cost-effective strategy is applicable for sample identification, taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics for not only ticks but likely other metazoans; thus, making mitogenome sequencing equitable for the wider scientific community., (© 2022. The Author(s).)