Ticks on birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 213 - 218
• Main Authors: Santolin, Isis Daniele Alves Costa, Luz, Hermes Ribeiro, Alchorne, Nívea Maria, Pinheiro, Michele da Costa, Melinski, Ramiro Dário, Faccini, João Luiz Horácio, Ferreira, Ildemar, Famadas, Kátia Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Wild; Bird Diseases - parasitology; Birds - parasitology; Brazil; Nymph; PARASITOLOGY; Rural Health; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Ticks; Universities; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; Ave; ecology; ecologia; Bird; tick; carrapato; Amblyomma cajennense
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612012000300007

The prevalence of parasitic infections, particularly those caused by ectoparasites, may influence the biology and ecology of wild birds. The aim of this study was to investigate occurrences and identify the species of ticks collected from wild birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. The birds were caught using mist nets between October 2009 and December 2010. In total, 223 birds were caught, represented by 53 species and 19 families in nine orders. Nineteen birds (n = 7 species) were parasitized by immature ticks (prevalence of 8.5%). Forty-four ticks were collected, of which 23 were nymphs and 21 were larvae. There were associations between parasitism by ticks and non-Passeriformes birds, and between parasitism and ground-dwelling birds, which was possibly due to the presence (or inclusion among the captured birds) of Vanellus chilensis (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae). All the nymphs collected were identified as Amblyomma cajennense. In general terms, we must emphasize that wild birds in the study area may play the role of dispersers for the immature stages of A. cajennense, albeit non-preferentially.