Efeito do microambiente sobre as fases não-parasitárias do carrapato rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae), linhagem tropical

Abstract

The cosmopolitan Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato is among the most important tick species. This tick is an occasional parasite of humans, but a regular parasite of domestic dogs and a vector of pathogens that can cause lethal infection. There are two lineages of this species complex in South America, the tropical and the temperate lineages (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto) that differ in their genetic, behavioral, and ecological aspects. This tick´s life cycle occurs in anthropized and dry environments, but not in a green environment (vegetation). In this work, the development of the non-parasitic life cycle of the tropical lineage of R. sanguineus in a green environment of the Cerrado (Cerradão) was compared with that of an apartment, an urban backyard and a laboratory. It was observed that the cycle of the tropical tick R. sanguineus was interrupted several times in the Cerrado and, even when not interrupted, the survival of nymphs and adults was very reduced. Thus, it can be concluded that this species cannot maintain viable populations in the Cerradão. Considering a property infested by the tick R. sanguineus, environmental control with acaricides should be carried out in dry anthropic environments without the need to include green areas such as gardens and lawns.