Records of ectoparasites on humans and wildlife in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

We report ectoparasites found on humans and wildlife from different locations in southeastern Brazil. Ectoparasites were stored in 70% alcohol and visually identified under a stereo microscope with the help of identification keys. Genomic DNA of ticks was extracted and used in the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Sixteen species of ectoparasites (six ticks, one lice, four fleas, four flies, and one bedbug) were identified on ten host species, including humans, other mammals, and birds. We report the first record of the parasitism of Amblyomma longirostre on Didelphis aurita, Microlynchia pussila on Turdus leucomelas, Ornithoica vicina and Ornithocoris pallidus on Psittacara leucophthalmus and O. pallidus on Homo sapiens. In addition, we also report the first record of O. vicina in the state of Minas Gerais and the infection by Rickettsia sp. in Amblyomma varium.