Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato(Ixodidae) in synantropic rodents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária
• Main Authors: Kathleen Tavares Winkel, Paulo Bretanha Ribeiro, Lidiane Oliveira Antunes, Marcial Corrêa Cárcamo, Élvia Elena Silveira Vianna
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Tick; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Rattus norvegicus; Rattus rattus; Animal culture; SF1-1100
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612014027; https://doaj.org/article/3b9a2c0a3f3040f4b358d9f926580804

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, is responsible for maintaining and transmitting various pathogens, both in animals and human beings, and it is of great sanitary importance. This communication reports the first occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato parasitizing Rattus norvegicus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and it is also the first record of this tick species parasitizing Rattus rattus in Brazil. The rodents were captured from the port area, located in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We collected 6 larvae of this tick species from 2 male R. rattus individuals, and 3 larvae from 2 female R. norvegicus individuals; parasitized specimens of both rodent species were captured from different sites within the experimental area. This record broadens the number of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato hosts in urban areas, indicating the need for continued monitoring on population density for both R. sanguineus and synanthropic rodents.