Ticks of the genus amblyomma (acari: Ixodidae) on wild birds in the brazilian amazon

Abstract

The Amazon biome harbors the richest avifauna in the world. However, in the Brazilian Amazon only a single previous study has systematically evaluated wild birds for ticks. During 2012, wild birds were captured in two areas of the Brazilian Amazon forest, one located in the State of Amazonas, and another in the State of Pará. Overall, 581 wild birds representing 118 species were captured, but only 18 individuals (3.1% prevalence) were infested by ticks, comprising immature stages of Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma geayi Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma humerale Koch, 1844, and Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844). The only previous study of birds in the Brazilian Amazon reported 40.2% tick prevalence. Such contrasting prevalence values may stem from seasonal differences or differences in forest disturbance at the two sites.