Fauna de carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) em aves silvestres no campus da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica e na Ilha de Itacuruçá, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The prevalence of parasitic infections and in particular the infestation is directly related to behavior and habitat can influence the biology and ecology of wild birds. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and identify the species of ticks collected from wild birds captured on the campus of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Isle of Itacuruçá. The birds were collected in mist-net during the period from November 2009 to November 2010 at the campus of UFRRJ and during periods of March, May and September 2010 in the Isle of Itacuruçá. Additionally were collected free-living ticks by CO2 traps, trawling with white flannel and manual capture along the trails used for catching birds. Infestation by ticks on wild birds was observed in both study areas. In total 223 birds were captured on the campus of UFRRJ, represented by 53 species, 19 families in 9 orders. 19 birds (n = 7 species) were parasitized by immature ticks, corresponding to the prevalence of 8.5%. It was collected 44 ticks which 23 in the nymph stage and 21 in the larval stage. An association between parasitism by ticks and birds non-Passeriformes, and between parasitism and birds of terrestrial habits caught in UFRRJ that took place possibly by the presence (or inclusion of capture) of Vanellus chilensis (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae). All nymphs collected from birds captured in UFRRJ were identified as Amblyomma cajennense which was also the only tick species identified, captured the 145 adult ticks in the environment in free-living stage. In Itacuruçá Island were captured 17 wild birds among which 14 species were Manacus manacus and three species Ramphocelus bresilius. A total of 10 ticks were collected, where five were in the larvae stage, four in the nymph stage and one adult stage. The species collected in the nymph stage were identified as Amblyomma longirostre (n = 2), Amblyomma oblongoguttatum (n = 1) and Amblyomma cajennense (n = 1). 1 adult Amblyomma parvum was collected parasitizing Manacus manacus that corresponds to the first record of this tick species in this region. The occurrence of ticks on wild birds in the campus of UFRRJ and Itacuruçá Island demonstrates the role of birds as hosts for immature stages and adult stage occasionally, having an important significance in maintaining the cycle of ticks in these regions.