title: Comparison of two methods for collecting free-living ticks in the Amazonian forest.
abstract: In the present study, we compared 2 methods for collecting ixodid ticks on the verges of animal trails in a primary Amazon forest area in northern Brazil. (i) Dragging: This method was based on passing a 1-m(2) white flannel over the vegetation and checking the flannel for the presence of caught ticks every 5-10 m. (ii) Visual search: This method consisted of looking for questing ticks on the tips of leaves of the vegetation bordering animal trails in the forest. A total of 103 adult ticks belonging to 4 Amblyomma species were collected by the visual search method on 5 collecting dates, while only 44 adult ticks belonging to 3 Amblyomma species were collected by dragging on 5 other collecting dates. These values were statistically different (Mann-Whitney Test, P=0.0472). On the other hand, dragging was more efficient for subadult ticks, since no larva or nymph was collected by visual search, whereas 18 nymphs and 7 larvae were collected by dragging. The visual search method proved to be suitable for collecting adult ticks in the Amazon forest; however, field studies should include a second method, such as dragging in order to maximize the collection of subadult ticks. Indeed, these 2 methods can be performed by a single investigator at the same time, while he/she walks on an animal trail in the forest.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade São Lucas, Departamento de Zoologia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavio A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Terassini
authors.forename: Fabio S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Saymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Matias P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Luis Marcelo A
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Marcelo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph; D014796:Visual Perception