title: Comparing feeding and reproductive parameters of Amblyomma parvum tick populations (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil and Argentina on various host species.
abstract: Amblyomma parvum is a Neotropical tick that is widely spread and a potential vector of pathogens, including Rickettsiae. Genetic differences are remarkable between A. parvum populations from Brazil and Argentina. In this work, feeding and reproduction parameters of A. parvum ticks from these two populations were compared on some key host species to evaluate possible differences in host suitability between them. On the whole parameters of these tick populations were similar when fed on the same host and varied similarly on different host species. Still, bovines were more suitable host for Argentinian larvae than for Brazilian cohorts. It was observed that guinea pigs were the best host A. parvum immatures from both origins, as depicted from higher recovery rate of larvae and heavier engorged nymph weights. Canids and bovids were host species most suitable to adults of both tick populations as shown by the highest number of larvae produced by adult females that engorged on these hosts. Taken together, results showed that in spite of the genetic divergence, A. parvum from Argentina and Brazil have similar biological performance on various host species.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas and Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, Uberlândia, MG CEP 38400-902, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monize
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: Maria Marlene
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: Matias Pablo Juan
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Szabó
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000502:physiology*; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Amblyomma parvum; Argentina; Biology; Brazil; Domestic hosts