First report of Amblyomma sculptum (Amblyomma cajennense complex) in a Brazilian state classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis

Research (Published online: 01-11-2023)

3. First report of Amblyomma sculptum (Amblyomma cajennense complex) in a Brazilian state classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis

Bruna Costa da Gama, Thiago Fernandes Martins, Marcelo Bahia Labruna, Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira, and Jonatas Campos de Almeida

Veterinary World, 16(11): 2200-2204

Bruna Costa da Gama: Centro de Engenharia e Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Viçosa, Alagoas, Brazil.

Thiago Fernandes Martins: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Pasteur, Área Técnica de Doenças Vinculadas a Vetores e Hospedeiros Intermediários, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Marcelo Bahia Labruna: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira: Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Jonatas Campos de Almeida: Centro de Engenharia e Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Viçosa, Alagoas, Brazil.

Background and Aim: Studies on ticks of public health concern in equine husbandry are scarce in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed to investigate the presence of ticks on horses in the State of Alagoas, which is classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis.

Materials and Methods: Ticks infesting horses were collected using anatomical tweezers or a commercial hook and kept in ethanol-labeled tubes for taxonomic identification.

Results: A total of 2,238 ticks were found. Ticks were identified as 2,215 (98.89%, 95% CI: 98.41–99.28) Dermacentor nitens, 19 (0.98%, 95% CI: 0.05–1.38) Amblyomma sculptum, and 4 (0.18%; 95% CI: 0.007–0.46) Rhipicephalus microplus.

Conclusion: This is the first study to report A. sculptum and D. nitens in the State of Alagoas. The presence of A. sculptum should draw the attention of public health managers once Alagoas State is considered a silent area for rickettsial diseases, which means the absence of local surveillance programs for these pathogens.