Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) as a parasite of pampas deer (Ozoctoceros bezoarticus)

P H D Cançado,G M Mourão,C A Zucco,J L H Faccini,E M Piranda

doi:10.4322/rbpv.01801008

Abstract

In the Pantanal, domestic and wild animals share the same habitats; their parasites and environment interact in a complex and dynamic way. The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most important cattle tick in Brazil. In the past two decades, some traditional management practices are being replaced with the aim of intensifying cattle production. Forested areas are being replaced by exotic pasture and ranch owners are replacing Nelore for European breeds. The pampas deer (Ozoctoceros bezoarticus) is a medium-sized cervid that occurs in grasslands of South America. Between December 2005 and January 2007, we captured and collected ticks from 15 pampas deer and 172 bovines. The abundance, intensity, and prevalence of ticks found in cattle were lower than those in pampas deer (p < 0.05), indicating that pampas deer is more susceptible than cattle. The high number of engorged females collected from pampas deer, their capacity to lay eggs, and the percentage of eclosion indicates that the pampas deer population in the Pantanal wetlands is sufficient to maintain the R. (B.) microplus, thus playing a important role in the transmission of ticks and tick-borne diseases. The recent deforestation to introduce Brachiaria sp. and European cattle needs to be carefully evaluated to prevent economic losses to the cattle industry and damage to the wildlife in Pantanal.

Highlights

The Brazilian Pantanal is an important area for the cattle ranching industry in Latin America
The high number of engorged females collected from pampas deer, their capacity to lay eggs, and the percentage of eclosion indicates that the pampas deer population in the Pantanal wetlands is sufficient to maintain the R. (B.) microplus, playing a important role in the transmission of ticks and tick-borne diseases
In the past two decades, some traditional management practices are being replaced in order to intensify cattle production, and large forested areas are being annually replaced by exotic pastures (Brachiaria sp.) (HARRIS et al, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

The Brazilian Pantanal is an important area for the cattle ranching industry in Latin America. The Pantanal is recognized as one of the world’s largest wetlands with a diverse mosaic of habitats resulting from different soil types and inundation patterns, and represents an extraordinarily rich terrestrial and aquatic biota (HARRIS et al, 2005). In this biome, where domestic and wild animals share the same habitats, their parasites and environment are found in complex and dynamic interactions. The most common cattle breed in the Pantanal region is the Nelore (Bos indicus), in which tick infestation is usually very low (BARROS and PELLEGRIN, 2002). Some ranch owners are changing from Nelore to European breeds (Bos taurus) as a way to increase meat production

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Conclusion