title: Host-Parasite Relationship of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae and Argasidae) and Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) in the Nhecolândia Region of the Pantanal Wetlands in Mato Grosso do Sul.
abstract: Feral pigs (S. scrofa) were introduced to the Pantanal region around 200 years ago and the population appears to be in expansion. Its eradication is considered to be impossible. The population of feral pigs in the Pantanal wetlands is currently estimated at one million. Two scientific excursions were organized. The first was conducted during the dry season, when 21 feral pigs were captured and the second was during the wet season, when 23 feral pigs were captured. Ticks were collected and the oviposition and hatching process were studied to confirm the biological success of each tick species. Three tick species were found to be feeding on feral pigs: Amblyomma cajennense, A. parvum, and Ornithodoros rostratus. During the dry season, 178 adult A. cajennense were collected, contrasting with 127 A. cajennense specimens in the wet season. This suggests that the seasonality of these ticks in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands could be different from other regions. The results indicate that A. parvum and A. cajennense are biologically successful parasites in relation to feral pigs. A. cajennense appears to have adapted to this tick-host relationship, as well as the areas where feral pigs are abundant, and could play a role in the amplification of this tick population.
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Beef Cattle, Av. Rádio Maia 830, 79002-970 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: P H D
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cançado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: J L H
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Faccini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: L E R
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-CPAP, Wild Life Laboratory, 79320-900 Corumbá, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Piranda
authors.affiliation: Agência Estadual de Defesa Sanitária Animal e Vegetal de Mato Grosso do Sul-IAGRO, 79074-902 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: R C S
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Paes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: C C D U
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia da Relação Patógeno-Hospedeiro-ICB/USP, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Borghesan
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal-UFMS, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Piacenti
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação-UFMS, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kinas
authors.affiliation: Associação de Proprietários de RPPN do MS, 79002 004 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal-UFMS, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79080-190 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paiva