Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of Ticks on Ring-Tailed Coatis Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) in Two Urban Areas from Midwestern Brazil

Abstract

Understanding the diversity and ecology of ectoparasites in wild animals is essential for surveillance of vector-borne diseases. Coatis (Nasua nasua) easily adapt to anthropized areas, favoring close contact with domestic animals and humans, with the possibility of exchange of ectoparasites and pathogens. The present study aimed to identify the diversity of ticks parasitizing coatis from forest urban areas of midwestern Brazil, to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of ticks during the seasons of the year, and to assess the correlation between tick species and gender and age of the sampled coatis. For this purpose, 103 coatis were captured in two Conservation areas, both located in Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Midwestern Brazil. The animals’ entire body was inspected for the presence of ectoparasites, and ticks were removed for taxonomic identification. In total, 168 captures were performed in both areas during the observational study considering the first capture and recaptures. In total, 2242 ticks were collected: 838 Amblyomma larvae, 1241 A. sculptum nymphs, and 150 A. dubitatum nymphs. Thirteen adult ticks were identified as three males and five females of A. sculptum and two males and three females of A. ovale. While a quantity of Amblyomma larvae was observed in the first months of the year (January, April and May), Amblyomma nymphs showed a higher quantity during the months of July, August, October and November. No statistical difference was observed when comparing mean intensity and prevalence of Amblyomma larvae, nymphs of A. sculptum and A. dubitatum between the two sampled areas, males vs. females and immature vs. mature animals. In conclusion, three tick species were identified parasitizing coatis from forested urban fragments in midwestern Brazil, namely A. dubitatum nymphs, A. sculptum adults and nymphs, and A. ovale adults. Coatis from anthropized areas seem to present tick species diversity lower than those from natural areas. The lack of statistical difference regarding mean intensity and prevalence of Amblyomma larvae and nymphs between males vs. females and immature vs. mature animals might have reflected the gregarious behavior of coatis, since adult males live together with females and offspring outside and inside the mating season, forming large groups of individuals.

Multi-Locus Sequencing Reveals Putative Novel Anaplasmataceae Agents, ‘Candidatus Ehrlichia dumleri’ and Anaplasma sp., in Ring-Tailed Coatis (Carnivora: Nasua nasua) from Urban Forested Fragments at Midwestern Brazil

“…The present study was conducted in the Cerrado biome, an area characterized by grassland to a nearly closed canopy of medium-height trees overlying grass with a tropical savanna climate [4]. Although these three studies were performed with the same animal species, it is known that tick diversity changes according to the studied biome [3,8,39,44,45]. Animals from the present study were found parasitized by non-identified Amblyomma sp.…”

“…Animals from the present study were found parasitized by non-identified Amblyomma sp. larvae, Amblyomma dubitatum, and Amblyomma sculptum nymphs, and A. sculptum and Amblyomma ovale adults [8]. Since the vector of the detected Ehrlichia sp.…”

“…The houses are not fenced, and they all have a trash can at the front. Coatis have access to the outside of the houses, and they were observed during field activities walking around the houses and also searching for food in the dumpsters [8]. This difference in the prevalence between the two areas may be explained by a phenomenon called 'dilution effect' [52][53][54].…”

“…Although coatis from urban forest fragments at Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil seem to present tick species diversity lower than those from natural areas, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma sculptum, and Amblyomma ovale were identified parasitizing this gregarious species in [8]. In fact, coatis can be found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp., two zoonoses of extreme importance in Public Health [9,10].…”

“…All capture procedures were previously described [4,8,11]. After chemical restraint, animals were marked with numbered colored earrings and had a microchip implanted in the subcutaneous tissue between the shoulder blades.…”