Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Life cycle of Ornithodoros rostratus (Acari: Argasidae) under experimental conditions and comments on the host-parasite relationship in the Pantanal wetland region, Brazil

  • Published:
Experimental and Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genus Ornithodoros is represented by 15 species in Brazil, on which no detailed life cycle studies have been published, except for O. talaje and O. mimon. The aim of the present study was to evaluate life cycle parameters of O. rostratus based on ticks collected in the Pantanal wetland region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, using domestic rabbits as experimental hosts. The periods of pre-attachment and feeding of the larvae lasted an average of 39 min (range 15–76 min). Five or six nymphal instars were found. The emergence of adults started with N3 in the following sequence: N3—two males; N4—13 males; N5—three males and 16 females; and N6—two females. Mean weight of N4 that molted to males was 31.7 ± 13.6 mg, whereas mean weight of N5 that molted to females was 100.1 ± 36.2 mg. The overall sex ratio was 1:1. Oviposition lasted 14 days, with a sharp decline beginning with the 7th day. The overall duration of the life cycle of O. rostratus ranged from approximately 66 to 136 days. Comments on the tick-host relationship in the Pantanal region are offered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almeida AP, Marcili A, Leite RC, Nieri-Bastos FA, Domingues LN, Martins JR, Labruna MB (2012) Coxiella symbiont in the tick Ornithodoros rostratus (Acari: Argasidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 3:203–206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balashov YS (1972) Blood-sucking ticks (Ixodoidea) vectors of diseases of man and animals. Misc Publ Entomol Soc Am 8:161–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros-Battesti DM, Onofrio VC, Nieri-Bastos FA, Soares JF, Marcili A, Famadas KM, Faccini JLH, Ramirez DG, Doyle RL, Martins JR, Reck J, Guglielmone AA, Labruna MB (2012) Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão (Acari: Argasidae) description of the larva, redescription of male and female, and neotype designation. Zootaxa (Auckland. Print) 3178:22–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck AF, Holscher KH, Butler J (1986) Life cycle of Ornithodoros turicata americanus (Acari: Argasidae) in the laboratory. J Med Entomol 23:313–319

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett GF (1974) Oviposition of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acarida: Ixodidae): (influence of tick size on egg production). Acarology 16:52–61

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brumpt E (1915) Biologia de alguns Ixodideos Brasileiros. Ann Paul Med Cir 4:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Cançado PHD, Piranda EM, Mourão GM, Faccini JLH (2008) Spatial distribution and impact of cattle-raising on ticks in the Pantanal region of Brazil by using the CO2 tick trap. Parasitol Res 103:371–377

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dantas-Torres F, Venzal JM, Bernardi LFO, Ferreira RL, Onofrio VC, Marcili A, Bermúdez SE, Ribeiro AF, Barros-Battesti DM, Labruna MB (2012) Description of a new species of bat-associated argasid tick (Acari: Argasidae) from Brazil. J Parasitol 98:36–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis GE (1952) Observations on the biology of the Argasid tick, Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão, 1923, with the recovery of a spirochete, Borrelia brasiliensis, n. sp. J Parasitol 38:473–476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmone AA, Hadani H (1980) Ciclo biológico de Ornithodoros rostratus (Aragão, 1911) bajo condiciones de laboratório. Medicina Veterinária 61:254–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmone AA, Robins RG, Apanaskevich DA, Petney TN, Estrada-Pen˜a A, Horak IG, Shao R, Barker SC (2010) The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida) of the world: a list of valid species names. Zootaxa 2528:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoogstraal H (1985) Argasid and Nutalliellid ticks as parasites and vectors. Adv Parasitol 24:135–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MH, Srivastava SC (1988) Life-history of Ornithodoros savignyi Audoun. Ind Vet J 65:192–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Landulfo GA, Pevidor LV, Sampaio JS, Luz HR, Onofrio VC, Faccini JLH, Barros-Battesti DM (2012) Life cycle of Ornithodoros mimon (Acari: Argasidae) under laboratory conditions. Exp Appl Acarol 58:69–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pound JM, Campbell JD, Andrews RH, Oliver JH Jr (1986) The relationship between weights of nymphal stages and subsequent development of Ornithodoros parkeri (Acari: Argasidae). J Med Entomol 23:320–325

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reck J, Soares JF, Termignoni C, Labruna MB, Martins JR (2011) Tick toxicosis in a dog bitten by Ornithodoros brasiliensis. Vet Clin Path 40:356–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumaker TTS, Barros DM (1995) Life cycle of Ornithodoros (Alectorobios) talaje (Acari: Argasidae) in laboratory. J Med Entomol 32:249–254

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Venzal JM, Estrada-Peña A (2006) Larval feeding performance of two Neotropical Ornithodoros ticks (Acari: Argasidae) on reptiles. Exp Appl Acarol 39:315–320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Brazilian agencies Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, 23890-000, Brazil

    Carla Carolina Dias Uzedo Ribeiro & João Luiz Horácio Faccini

  2. Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

    Paulo Henrique Duarte Cançado

  3. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

    Eliane Mattos Piranda

  4. Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti

  5. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil

    Romário Cerqueira Leite

Authors
  1. Carla Carolina Dias Uzedo Ribeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. João Luiz Horácio Faccini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paulo Henrique Duarte Cançado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eliane Mattos Piranda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Romário Cerqueira Leite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to João Luiz Horácio Faccini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ribeiro, C.C.D.U., Faccini, J.L.H., Cançado, P.H.D. et al. Life cycle of Ornithodoros rostratus (Acari: Argasidae) under experimental conditions and comments on the host-parasite relationship in the Pantanal wetland region, Brazil. Exp Appl Acarol 61, 139–146 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-013-9669-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-013-9669-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation