title: Amblyomma auricularium (Acari: Ixodidae): underwater survival of the non-parasitic phase of feeding females.
abstract: To determine the effects of immersion in water on the biological parameters of engorged females of the tick species Amblyomma auricularium, 60 females were distributed in six groups, each comprising 10 individuals. The control group - G1 (not immersed) was fixed dorsally in a Petri dish and incubated at 27 ± 1°C and 80% RH. The other groups were subjected to immersion periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, and the sixth group to continuous immersion. After the immersion period, the females were placed in Petri dishes to begin laying. Eggs were collected every 72 hours and kept in biological chambers. All the groups showed significant differences (p <0.05) during the pre-oviposition period. The laying period and the average weight of overall posture did not change. The egg incubation period also did not differ significantly, but the hatching rate in the group immersed for 96h showed a significant difference. Thus, immersion for up to 96 hours does not impair the survival of A. auricularium females, although it may delay egg laying and reduce the number of offspring.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ixodologia, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ? UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Iwine Joyce Barbosa de
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Sá-Hungaro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ? UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vanessa de Almeida
authors.initials: Vde A
authors.lastname: Raia
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ixodologia, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ? UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Michele da Costa
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ? UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carla Carolina Dias Uzedo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ixodologia, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ? UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kátia Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Famadas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007101:Immersion; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water