title: Liolaemus lizards (Squamata: Liolaemidae) as hosts for the nymph of Amblyomma parvitarsum (Acari: Ixodidae), with notes on Rickettsia infection.
abstract: Adults of Amblyomma parvitarsum are common ectoparasites of South American camelids of the genera Lama and Vicugna, occuring in highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and also in Argentinean Patagonia. Whereas larval stages of this tick are known to feed on small lizards, host records for the nymphal instar have remained unreported. Supported by morphological and molecular analyses, herein we report A. parvitarsum nymphs parasitizing two Liolaemus species (Reptilia: Squamata) in the Andean Plateau of Argentina and Chile. Additionally, by a PCR screening targetting gltA and ompA genes, DNA of Rickettsia was detected in one of the collected nymphs. Obtained sequences of this agent were identical to a recent Rickettsia sp. described infecting adults of this tick species in Chile and Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil. munoz-leal@usp.br.
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Leal
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Evelina L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tarragona
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (UEL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Miguel Lillo 251, CP 4400, San Miguel De Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA), Universidad Naiconal de Jujuy - CONICET, Alberdi 47, CP 4600, San Salvador De Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina.
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burgos-Gallardo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, CP 3780000, Chillán, Biobío, Chile.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Acuña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Amblyomma parvitarsum; Host-parasite association; Liolaemus; Rickettsia