Abstract
BackgroundThe water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is well adapted in some regions of the Amazon. Of all Brazilian states, Pará contains the largest number of this species, with 510,000 animals, approximately 38% of the Brazilian buffaloes. Despite the socioeconomic importance of bubaline farming in the northern region, little is known about the prevalence of ectoparasites that affect buffalo herds. This study aimed to identify the species of buffalo ectoparasites in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, and to determine possible risk factors related to ectoparasitic infestation. A cross-sectional study was conducted by sampling 60 rural properties and 621 buffaloes for ectoparasites. When present, ectoparasites were collected for subsequent identification.ResultsOf all the animals sampled, 18.5% (115/621) had ectoparasites, 7.8% (49/621) had ticks from the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Amblyomma cajennense (sensu stricto), and 11.5% (72/621) had lice from the Haematopinus tuberculatus species. Six animals presented mixed infestations of ticks and lice. Among the sampled farms, 51.6% (31/60) had at least one animal infested with ectoparasites. The prevalence of ticks and lice on buffaloes was associated with the farm site, with higher prevalence (11.5% ticks, 15.4% lice) in animals at dry land (OR: 16.7 and 5.7 for ticks and lice, respectively) when compared with floodplains (0.5% ticks, 3.4% lice). Buffaloes aged 1 to 12 months had more ticks whereas buffaloes aged 13 to 24 months had more lice (P < 0.05).ConclusionsBuffaloes bred in the municipality of Santarém present different levels of tick and lice infestation according to the direct influence of Amazon ecosystem characteristics. The floodplain environment, widely used for buffalo farming, contributes toward minor ectoparasite infestations in these animals.
Highlights
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is well adapted in some regions of the Amazon
In the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, southeastern region, a natural infestation of R. (B) microplus and Dermacentor nitens was reported in Batista et al Parasites & Vectors (2018) 11:335 buffaloes, the ticks mainly parasitizing the groin and axilla, perineum, udder and other regions where the skin is thinner and the hair shorter [4]
In Rio de Janeiro, in the southeastern region of Brazil, 82.3% of buffalo herds show tick infestations; other ectoparasites have not been considered in previous studies in this region [7]
Summary
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is well adapted in some regions of the Amazon. Of all Brazilian states, Pará contains the largest number of this species, with 510,000 animals, approximately 38% of the Brazilian buffaloes. Despite the socioeconomic importance of bubaline farming in the northern region, little is known about the prevalence of ectoparasites that affect buffalo herds. This study aimed to identify the species of buffalo ectoparasites in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, and to determine possible risk factors related to ectoparasitic infestation. There are 1.78 million buffaloes in Brazil, of which 507,000 (38%) are found in Pará state, northern region of Brazil [1]. The tick species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Amblyomma cajennense complex typically parasitize buffaloes [4,5,6]. There have been few reports about tick parasitism in buffaloes in Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, in the southeastern region of Brazil, 82.3% of buffalo herds show tick infestations; other ectoparasites have not been considered in previous studies in this region [7]. The vector of Brazilian spotted fever, which has low host parasitic specificity, has previously been found in buffaloes [8]
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