title: Biology and life cycle of Amblyomma incisum (Acari: Ixodidae).
abstract: Amblyomma incisum Neumann is a major tick species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Tapir is the main host for adult ticks and a high aggressiveness of nymphs to humans has been reported. In this work data on the biology and life cycle of this tick species is presented for the first time. It was shown that horse is a suitable host for A. incisum adults and rabbit for larvae and nymphs. It was also shown that A. incisum is a big tick species (mean engorged female weight of 1.96 g) with a long life cycle which lasts 262.3 days when maintained at 27 degrees C and 85% RH. These laboratory conditions were, however, inappropriate and egg hatching rate (1.2%) was very low. Nevertheless egg hatching of ticks in a forest patch increased considerably (72.2%) indicating that this A. incisum population is highly dependent on a forest-like environment.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, Uberlândia, MG, CEP 38400-902, Brazil. szabo@famev.ufu.br
authors.forename: Matias Pablo J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Lucas de F
authors.initials: Lde F
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Márcio B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Marcos V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Gustavo S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: Marcelo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D010058:Oviposition; D011817:Rabbits