<p class="Body"><strong>Firsts records of abnormalities and gynandromorphism in hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from Panama</strong></p>

Abstract

<jats:p>During a review of the Tick Collection of the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Panama, of 6,624 Ixodidae analyzed, 255 presented abnormalities. We detail morphological abnormalities and gynandomorphism in adults of 16 species: Amblyomma auricularium, A. calcaratum, A. dissimile, A. mixtum, A. naponense, A. cf. oblongoguttatum, A. ovale, A. sabanerae, A. tapirellum, A. varium, Dermacentor nitens, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes auritulus, I. tapirus, Rhipicephalus microplus, and R. sanguineus s.l. No abnormalities were found in A. coelebs, A. geayi, A. longirostre, Amblyomma nodosum, A. pacae, A. cf. parvum, A. pecarium, A. rotundatum, Dermacentor imitans, D. latus, D. panamensis, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, I. affinis, I. bequearti, I. bocatorensis, I. boliviensis, and I. luciae. This represents the first findings of these phenomena in A. auricularium, A. calcaratum, A. naponense, A. ovale, A. sabanerae, A. tapirellum, A. varium, D. nitens, H. juxtakochi, I. auritulus, and I. tapirus. Local abnormalities were more frequent than general malformations. Amblyomma dissimile had the highest percentage of individuals with malformations, including specimens with two or more local abnormalities and gynandromorphism. It is possible that these malformations may go unnoticed or confused with loss appendages or mechanical damage.</jats:p>