Parasitismo de Amblyomma fuscum (Acari: Ixodidae) em humanos

Abstract

Amblyomma fuscum is a rare, recently revalidated tick species, with few records in the literature. The present study reports two records of human parasitism by A. fuscum, one in the state of São Paulo (SP), and the other possibly from the state of Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil. These are the first reports of A. fuscum on humans. An adult female specimen of A. fuscum was collected while attached to the palmar area of the hand of one of the authors of the present study, in Guarujá, SP. The second specimen, also an adult female, was collected while attached to the ankle of a resident of São Paulo city, who had returned three days before from Lagoa da Conceição, Florianópolis Municipality, SC. The present report of A. fuscum in Guarujá, SP and another one, possibly from Florianópolis, SC, reinforce previous reports of this tick species in these two Brazilian states. Although the adult stage of A. fuscum has been primarily associated with reptiles, other reports on mammals (Carnivora and Edentata) and the present report on humans suggest low host specificity.