Occurrence of Amblyomma dissimile on wild crocodylians in southern Mexico

Abstract

Ticks are common ectoparasites of amphibians and reptiles but very few reports of such parasites on crocodylians exist worldwide. Herein, we report the first detailed observations of Amblyomma dissimile Koch, 1844 on the 3 crocodylian species present in Mexico, with the first report of tick parasitism on Crocodylus acutus and the second on Caiman crocodilus chiapasius. This is also the first report of A. dissimile in the state of Quintana Roo. Proportions of infested individuals found in this study ranged from 0.51 to 1.96%, suggesting that tick parasitism in crocodylians is likely opportunistic and occurs when individuals leave the water for terrestrial activities. Tick parasitism does not represent a major threat to crocodylians. The increasing habitat destruction/fragmentation and cattle expansion in southeastern Mexico, however, could increase tick populations and trigger tick parasitism and tick-borne diseases in herpetofauna and other vertebrates, including humans. Thus, studies are needed to better understand these relationships.

Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi in ticks from reptiles in Córdoba, Colombia

“…In contrast to our results, studies conducted in Mexico reported that reptiles were infested either individually or in groups with Amblyomma mixtum , Amblyomma rotundatum , Amblyomma sabanerae , and Amblyomma scutatum but not with A. dissimile [ 29 ]. However, other researchers in Mexico have reported A. dissimile infestations on reptiles [ 30 ].…”

Tick Infection of Caiman crocodilus fuscus at the Hidroprado Hydroelectric Dam in Colombia: New Records, Parasite Prevalence, and Blood Loss Rate

“…moreletii, Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Ca. c. chiapasius (Bocourt, 1876) (Rainwater et al, 2001;Pietzsch et al, 2006;Lima and Gianizella, 2015;Charruau et al, 2016;Witter et al, 2016;Santodomingo et al, 2018). Although the role of crocodilians in the cycles of enzootic diseases is not clear (Charruau et al, 2016), A. dissimile could play a role as a reservoir in the maintenance of rickettsiae in reptile populations (Jongejan, 1992).…”

“…Currently, in Crocodylus Laurenti, 1768, Paleosuchus Gray, 1862 and Caiman Spix, 1825 genera, 21 records of ticks of the genus Amblyomma Koch, 1844 have been made, with identification of seven species: A. dissimile Koch, 1844 (Rainwater et al, 2001;Pietzsch et al, 2006, Lima andGianizella, 2015;Charruau et al, 2016;Witter et al, 2016), A. rotundatum Koch, 1844 (Peralta et al, 1995;Morais et al, 2010;Rodríguez-Vivas et al, 2016;Witter et al, 2016;Acosta et al, 2019), A. grossum (Pallas, 1772) (Huchzermeyer, 2003), A. humerale Koch, 1844 (Labruna et al, 2005;Witter et al, 2016), A. mixtum Koch, 1844(Rodríguez-Vivas et al, 2016; A. exornatum Koch, 1844 (Schwetz, 1927;Burridge, 2001;Huchzermeyer, 2003;Tellez, 2014) and A. cordiferum Neumann, 1899(Kwak et al, 2019. In Colombia, only A. dissimile (one male and one female) has been recorded in Caiman crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758at Caribbean region (Santodomingo et al, 2018.…”