Publications

molecular detection of rickettsia rhipicephali and other spotted fever group rickettsia species in amblyomma ticks infesting wild birds in the state of minas gerais, brazil.	the current study evaluated parasitism of wild birds by ticks in a fragment of atlantic forest in the state of minas gerais, brazil, and examined the ticks for rickettsial agents. birds were captured during 2014 and 2015 and ticks were identified by sequencing fragments of the 16s and 12s ribosomal dna. among 260 birds representing 19 families and 52 species, a total of 69 (26.5%) were found to be infested by larvae (ll) and/or nymphs (nn) of amblyomma longirostre (koch, 1844) (45 ll, 4 nn), amb ...	2017	27745888
host specificity in a diverse neotropical tick community: an assessment using quantitative network analysis and host phylogeny.	host specificity is a fundamental determinant of tick population and pathogen transmission dynamics, and therefore has important implications for human health. tick host specificity is expected to be particularly high in the tropics, where communities of ticks, hosts and pathogens are most diverse. yet the degree to which tropical tick species are host-specific remains poorly understood. combining new field data with published records, we assessed the specificity of tick-host associations in pan ...	2016	27357506
bacteria of the genus rickettsia in ticks (acari: ixodidae) collected from birds in costa rica.	the aim of this study was to document the presence of rickettsia spp. in ticks parasitizing wild birds in costa rica. birds were trapped at seven locations in costa rica during 2004, 2009, and 2010; then visually examined for the presence of ticks. ticks were identified, and part of them was tested individually for the presence of rickettsia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) using primers targeting fragments of the rickettsial genes glta and ompa. pcr products were dna-sequenced and analyz ...	2015	25869035
rickettsial infection in ticks from wild birds from cerrado and the pantanal region of mato grosso, midwestern brazil.	the involvement of different species of ticks and wild animals, such as birds, play an important role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. birds may serve as reservoirs for some tick-borne diseases, and may carry and spread hematophagous ectoparasites mechanically. this study aimed to show the diversity of ticks on birds and molecular detection of rickettsial infection in ticks from pantanal and cerrado, two similar brazilian biomes characterized by hydrological seasons. during two years, ...	2015	26232933
ticks (acari: ixodidae) identified from prey-predator interactions via faecal analysis of brazilian wild carnivores.	between july 2008 and may 2010, we conducted a trophic study on 12 brazilian wild carnivore species through their faecal analysis in a silvicultural landscape at angatuba municipality, southern são paulo state. predator faeces was identified by morphology, predator hair, and surrounding tracks; prey remnants within faeces were used for morphological identification of the prey. among the recovered ectoparasites, there were 89 specimens of six tick species in 21 (4.0%) out of 523 analysed samples. ...	2015	25702204
avian migrants facilitate invasions of neotropical ticks and tick-borne pathogens into the united states.	migratory birds have the potential to transport exotic vectors and pathogens of human and animal health importance across vast distances. we systematically examined birds that recently migrated to the united states from the neotropics for ticks. we screened both ticks and birds for tick-borne pathogens, including rickettsia species and borrelia burgdorferi. over two spring seasons (2013 and 2014), 3.56% of birds (n = 3,844) representing 42.35% of the species examined (n = 85) were infested by ti ...	2015	26431964
rickettsial infections in ticks from wild birds in paraguay.	ticks were collected from wild birds at 3 locations in paraguay during the south american winter in august and september 2012. in total, 480 birds belonging to 106 species were examined. overall, 31 (6.5%) birds representing 21 species were found parasitized by ticks which were identified as amblyomma calcaratum neumann (2 larvae, 20 nymphs), amblyomma longirostre (koch) (17 larvae, 3 nymphs), amblyomma parvum aragão (7 nymphs), amblyomma aureolatum (pallas) (1 nymph), amblyomma ovale koch (1 ny ...	2014	24231270
ticks infesting birds in atlantic forest fragments in rio claro, state of sao paulo, brazil.	in the present study, we report tick infestations on wild birds in plots of the atlantic forest reforested fragments with native species and plots reforested with eucalyptus tereticornis in the municipality of rio claro, state of sao paulo, brazil. a total of 256 birds were captured: 137 individuals of 33 species, in planted native forest; and 128 individuals of 37 species, in planted eucalyptus tereticornis forest. nymphs of two tick species were found on the birds: amblyomma calcaratum and amb ...	2013	24252949
description of the larva of amblyomma calcaratum neumann, 1899 (acari: ixodidae) by light and scanning electron microscopy.	the larval stage of amblyomma calcaratum neumann is described using optical and scanning electron microscopy. unfed larvae were obtained from a colony of a. calcaratum originating from engorged females collected on tamandua tetradactyla in the jaraguá mountain (23°40's, 45°44'w), são paulo county, brazil. eleven larvae were prepared and mounted on slides and observed under a light microscope equipped with a drawing tube. three specimens were prepared for sem. several morphological characters are ...	2013	24169118
a rickettsia parkeri-like agent infecting amblyomma calcaratum nymphs from wild birds in mato grosso do sul, brazil.	in total, 142 birds, mostly passerines, belonging to 42 species were examined for the presence of ticks in 3 locations in mato grosso do sul brazil during 2006. seven birds (5%) were infested with 4 nymphs of amblyomma calcaratum (ramphocelus carbo, 3 infested/12 examined) and 5 larvae of amblyomma sp. (furnarius rufus, 2/5; turdus leucomelas, 1/6; and paroaria capitata, 1/8). all 4 nymphs of a. calcaratum tested by polymerase chain reaction targeting rickettsial genes glta and ompa and by ampli ...	2013	23238243
importation of exotic ticks and tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsiae into the united states by migrating songbirds.	birds are capable of carrying ticks and, consequently, tick-transmitted microorganisms over long distances and across geographical barriers such as oceans and deserts. ticks are hosts for several species of spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr), which can be transmitted to vertebrates during blood meals. in this study, the prevalence of this group of rickettsiae was examined in ticks infesting migratory songbirds by using polymerase chain reaction (pcr). during the 2009 and 2010 spring migratio ...	2013	24252263
rickettsial infection in ticks (acari: ixodidae) collected on birds in southern brazil.	the aim of the study was to evaluate rickettsial infection in ticks from wild birds of the semidecidual and atlantic rainforest remnants of three municipalities of the state of paraná, southern brazil. overall, 53 larvae and nymphs collected from birds were checked for the presence of rickettsia dna by molecular tests. five tick species were tested: amblyomma aureolatum (pallas), amblyomma calcaratum neumann, amblyomma longirostre (koch), amblyomma ovale koch, and amblyomma parkeri fonseca and a ...	2012	22679880
rickettsial infection in ticks collected from road-killed wild animals in rio de janeiro, brazil.	during 2008-2010, ticks were collected from road-killed wild animals within the serra dos orgãos national park area in the state of rio de janeiro, brazil. in total, 193 tick specimens were collected, including amblyomma dubitatum neumann and amblyomma cajennense (f.) from four hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (l.), amblyomma calcaratum neumann and a. cajennense from four tamandua tetradactyla (l.), amblyomma aureolatum (pallas) and a. cajennense from five cerdocyon thous l., amblyomma longirostre (koc ...	2012	23270184
ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting wild birds in the eastern amazon, northern brazil, with notes on rickettsial infection in ticks.	the aim of the study was to report tick infestations on wild birds in a region of the eastern brazilian amazon and evaluate the rickettsial infection of these ticks. wild birds captured by mist nets were examined for the presence of ticks, which were collected and identified to species by morphology or molecular methods. in addition, part of these ticks was individually tested by polymerase chain reaction targeting portions of the rickettsial genes glta and ompa. among 331 captured birds, repres ...	2010	20140452
ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting wild birds in the atlantic forest in northeastern brazil, with notes on rickettsial infection in ticks.	a total of 232 individuals representing 46 species of birds were mist-netted and screened for ticks in a region of the atlantic forest, state of bahia, brazil. thirty-eight (16.4%) of these birds representing 17 species were found infested by immature stages of amblyomma ticks, namely, amblyomma longirostre (koch, 1844) (15 larvae and seven nymphs), amblyomma nodosum (neumann, 1899) (nine nymphs), amblyomma calcaratum (neumann, 1899) (five nymphs), amblyomma cajennense (fabricius, 1787) (seven l ...	2010	20953629
ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting birds in an atlantic rain forest region of brazil.	brazil has the third richest bird diversity of the world; however, there are few data concerning ticks (acari: ixodidae) parazitizing birds. the aim of the study was to report tick infestations on wild birds from an atlantic rain forest region of brazil. during 2 yr, ticks were collected from birds and from the environment in 12 forest sites. a total of 1,725 birds were captured representing 80 species from 24 families. in total, 223 (13%) birds were found infested by immature stages of amblyomm ...	2009	19769058
ticks collected on birds in the state of são paulo, brazil.	the present study reports a collection of amblyomma spp. ticks in birds from several areas of the state of são paulo, brazil. a total of 568 tick specimens (404 larvae, 164 nymphs) were collected from 261 bird specimens. from these ticks, 204 (36%) specimens (94 larvae, 110 nymphs) were reared to the adult stage, being identified as amblyomma longirostre (94 larvae, 90 nymphs), amblyomma calcaratum (13 nymphs), amblyomma nodosum (2 nymphs), and amblyomma cajennense (5 nymphs). additionally, 39 l ...	2007	17882514
[interrelatio of acari ixodidae and hosts of edentata of the serra da canastra, minas gerais, brazil].	we received for examination a small colection of ticks captured in the national park of the serra da canastra (mg), between 1979 and 1980. the authors demonstrated the existence of a broad co-accomodation of amblyomma pseudoconcolor on edentata of the family dasypodidae, being dasypodini the tribe more adjusted to this infestation. in conformity to the figs 1 and 2, dasypodini are probably the real hosts of a. pseudoconcolor and also the oldest hosts. for the first time, a. pseudoconcolor is als ...	1989	2319951
amblyomma calcaratum (acari: ixodidae), a central and south american tick, found in kentucky, usa.		1987	3820233
update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach.	tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus rickettsia. these zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. however, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that wer ...	0	24092850