Ticks in wild animals at a resort and the first documentation of Amblyomma sculptum infesting Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Abstract

The study aimed to identify species of ticks present in the environment and among captive animals, in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ticks were isolated from captive animals by manual examination and free-living ticks in the environment were captured using the flannel drag technique. A total of 91 ticks were obtained (51 adults, 25 nymphs and 15 larvae). The specimens were identified morphologically as Amblyomma sp., Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma ovale and Amblyomma sculptum, and were distributed among five species of native mammals and an exotic bird. This study also reports the first case of infestation of the Australian emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) by A. sculptum.