Abstract
Adults of Amblyomma parvitarsum are common ectoparasites of South American camelids of the genera Lama and Vicugna, occuring in highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and also in Argentinean Patagonia. Whereas larval stages of this tick are known to feed on small lizards, host records for the nymphal instar have remained unreported. Supported by morphological and molecular analyses, herein we report A. parvitarsum nymphs parasitizing two Liolaemus species (Reptilia: Squamata) in the Andean Plateau of Argentina and Chile. Additionally, by a PCR screening targetting gltA and ompA genes, DNA of Rickettsia was detected in one of the collected nymphs. Obtained sequences of this agent were identical to a recent Rickettsia sp. described infecting adults of this tick species in Chile and Argentina.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to and the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) for gently facilitate us the use of their installations in Parinacota. To Nicolás Fernández and Cecilia Figueroa for their valuable help during field work, and to René Muñoz Klock who provide the transport for the research team in Chile. The collection of samples in Chile was partially funded by Fondecyt Project 1130948. FBG thank the “Dirección Provincial de Biodiversidad y Secretaria de Gestión Ambiental de la Provincia de Jujuy” for the logistics and work within the Protected Area. SML was funded by CONICYT Programa de Formación de Capital Humano Avanzado, Beca Chile No 72140079.
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Muñoz-Leal, S., Tarragona, E.L., Martins, T.F. et al. Liolaemus lizards (Squamata: Liolaemidae) as hosts for the nymph of Amblyomma parvitarsum (Acari: Ixodidae), with notes on Rickettsia infection. Exp Appl Acarol 70, 253–259 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-016-0071-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-016-0071-0