On the adaptation of ticks to the habits of their hosts
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Abstract:
A consideration of the facts presented in the foregoing pages appears to warrant certain conclusions which must, however, be regarded in part as provisional and subject to revision when our knowledge of the various species of ticks has become more extended. The views here expressed may prove of practical use in the study of the Ixodidae. The Argasidae represent the relatively primitive type of ticks because they are less constantly parasitic than are the Ixodidae. Their nymphs and adults are rapid feeders and chiefly infest the habitat of their hosts. In certain Argasidae ( O. moubata and O. savignyi ) the disadvantage of their possessing an “active” larval stage has resulted in the development of an “inactive” larva, i.e. the young nymph being the first to suck blood. In O. megnini we have a considerable adaptation brought about by the difficulty there must be in the tick entering the small aperture of the ear more than once. Owing to the Argasidae infesting the habitats of their hosts, their resistance to prolonged starvation and their rapid feeding habits, they do not need to bring forth a large progeny, because there is less loss of life in the various stages, as compared to Ixodidae, prior to their attaining maturity. The Ixodidae are more highly specialized parasites than the preceding. The majority are parasitic on hosts having no fixed habitat and consequently all stages, as a rule, occur upon the host. In the genus Ixodes we find an adaptation of certain species according to the habits of the hosts upon which they are parasitic. In the species which usually occur upon wandering hosts both sexes are found upon the host, whereas in other species which occur on hosts possessing more or less fixed habitats the males are rarely or never found upon the host. The males of species of Ixodes , both sexes of which occur upon the host, are characterized, as a rule, by the possession of hypostomes with prominent teeth, the reverse being the case in forms wherein the males do not occur upon the host. Where species occur upon a wandering host it is essential, for their propagation in nature, that both sexes should be carried about upon the host.Keywords:
Argasidae
Ornithodoros
The objective of this study was to describe the developmental biology of the tick Ornithodoros peruvianus Kohls, Clifford and Jones under laboratory conditions. A total of 174 live specimens of O. peruvianus at different stages were collected from caves located on Pan de Azúcar Island (26°09’S, 70°41’W) and Tal Tal (25°15’S, 70°15’W). In the laboratory, ticks were fed on rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and kept in acrylic tubes under controlled conditions of humidity and temperature (average of 75% +/- 5 and 23 +/- 1°C, respectively), and a 12 hour photoperiod. The minimum period between stages were: oviposition to egg hatching: 9 days; larva to nymph one: 44 days (44-56); nymph one to nymph two: 10 days (10-20); nymph two to male: 66 days (66-84); nymph two to nymph three: 68 days, and nymph three to female: 42 days. Oviposition occurred in 24 females, with an average of 70 (15-133) eggs per female after the first bloodmeal. The total time to complete the cycle under laboratory conditions was 185 days on average (SD = 17.43). O. peruvianus may require three nymphal stages to molt into an adult female and only two to molt into an adult male. The selected environmental conditions, host and photoperiod are important factors that must now be considered to better understand the factors that affect developmental times of this tick.
Argasidae
Ornithodoros
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Data are presented for 103 tick specimens collected from four coyotes in two provinces of Panama. Six tick species were recovered: Amblyomma cajennense s.l., Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma sp. near parvum, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, and Ornithodoros sp. near puertoricensis. These collections constitute a preliminary checklist of ticks from the southern coyote population.
Argasidae
Panama
Amblyomma
Parasitiformes
Ornithodoros
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A consideration of the facts presented in the foregoing pages appears to warrant certain conclusions which must, however, be regarded in part as provisional and subject to revision when our knowledge of the various species of ticks has become more extended. The views here expressed may prove of practical use in the study of the Ixodidae. The Argasidae represent the relatively primitive type of ticks because they are less constantly parasitic than are the Ixodidae. Their nymphs and adults are rapid feeders and chiefly infest the habitat of their hosts. In certain Argasidae ( O. moubata and O. savignyi ) the disadvantage of their possessing an “active” larval stage has resulted in the development of an “inactive” larva, i.e. the young nymph being the first to suck blood. In O. megnini we have a considerable adaptation brought about by the difficulty there must be in the tick entering the small aperture of the ear more than once. Owing to the Argasidae infesting the habitats of their hosts, their resistance to prolonged starvation and their rapid feeding habits, they do not need to bring forth a large progeny, because there is less loss of life in the various stages, as compared to Ixodidae, prior to their attaining maturity. The Ixodidae are more highly specialized parasites than the preceding. The majority are parasitic on hosts having no fixed habitat and consequently all stages, as a rule, occur upon the host. In the genus Ixodes we find an adaptation of certain species according to the habits of the hosts upon which they are parasitic. In the species which usually occur upon wandering hosts both sexes are found upon the host, whereas in other species which occur on hosts possessing more or less fixed habitats the males are rarely or never found upon the host. The males of species of Ixodes , both sexes of which occur upon the host, are characterized, as a rule, by the possession of hypostomes with prominent teeth, the reverse being the case in forms wherein the males do not occur upon the host. Where species occur upon a wandering host it is essential, for their propagation in nature, that both sexes should be carried about upon the host.
Argasidae
Ornithodoros
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The individual effects of temperature, desiccation, chloroform, inert dusts, and molting on cuticular permeability of Hyalomma (H.) dromedarii (Ixodidae) and Ornithodoros (0.) savignyi (Argasidae) were studied. Permeability was low in both species, particularly in 0. savignyi. In un- fed H. dromedarii, permeability was lower in the male than in the female, but in 0. savignyi there was no significant difference between the sexes. In both species, adults were less permeable when unfed than when engorged. The transition temperature of epicuticular waxes was 52 C for H. dromedarii and 63 C for 0. savignyi. The permeability/temperature curves for both species were of the L-shaped type, indicating the presence of a single epicuticular wax layer. Permeability was not greatly affected at lower temperatures after heating to a temperature several degrees below transition but was per- manently damaged following heating above the transition temperature. Permeability decrease when the ticks were desiccated in low relative humidity ranges was shown to be independent of cuticular hydration. Permeability was not affected by subjecting unfed and engorged ticks to chloroform vapor or cold chloroform, but was greatly increased by action of boiling chloroform. Thus, it is postulated that a cement layer covers the epicuticular wax layer of both tick species. In a comparative study of the effect of 7 inert dusts, the permeability of both species was increased only by abrasion; no ad- sorptive action was observed, possibly because of the presence of the cement layer. Ticks kept in a humid atmosphere after abrasion reestablished some degree of impermeability by secreting new waxes, mostly during the first 24 hr following abrasion. During molting, cuticular permeability remained constant to the moment of shedding the exuviae, when it increased greatly. Three or 4 days after molting, ticks held at 28 C and 85% relative humidity again achieved their standard impermeability; lower humid- ities accelerated this process. Achievement of the standard permeability level probably coincides with secretion of the cement layer.
Argasidae
Hyalomma
Ornithodoros
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This study encompasses an updated species list of ticks (Ixodoidea superfam.) in Iran and knowledge on their distribution and host animals are provided. The present list is based on previous literatures as well as observations by the authors on the ticks of Iran. In total, 46 species of ticks occur in Iran (10 Argasidae and 36 Ixodidae) from 10 genera.
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The morphological description of a new soft tick species collected in Oman twenty years ago by W. Buttiker is given. The features of the nymphs and the larvae are characteristic of the genus Ornithodoros Koch, 1844 and of the subgenus Alveonasus Schulze, 1941. Examination of the larvae shows a specific combination of an O. (A.) foleyi-like body setal formula and setal location, and an O. (A.) canestrinii-like dorsal plate, as well as a unique hypostome longer than in all other Ornithodoros (Alveonasus) species and a unique palpal article III as long as articles II and IV, unlike all other Ornithodoros (Alveonasus) species. This new species is named O. (A.) buettikeri as a token of our esteem for its discoverer. Its relationships with the other Ornithodoros (Alveonasus) species are discussed. (Resume d'auteur)
Argasidae
Ornithodoros
Subgenus
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Based on data gathered over a 13-month period, beginning in 1958, 19 species, representing 8 genera of ticks, are listed as occurring in Turkey. These include 5 Haemaphysalis species, 5 Hyalomma, 2 Argus, 2 Boophilis, 2 Rhipicephalus, 1 Dermacentor, 1 Lxodes, and 1 Ornithodoros. The physical features of Turkey are briefly described and a map is presented showing the four topographical areas into which the country may be divided. Areas in which each tick species occurs are shown opposite the species listed. Six species have been incriminated in the transmission of animal diseases in Turkey.
Argasidae
Dermacentor
Hyalomma
Ornithodoros
Rhipicephalus
Haemaphysalis
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Argasidae
Ornithodoros
Animal ecology
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The soft tick Ornithodoros guaporensis n. sp. (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) is described from larvae and adults. Morphological analysis and 16S rDNA sequences are provided. Adults were collected from a rocky fissure inhabited by bats located in the Amazonian forest in north-eastern Bolivia (Beni Department) close to the Guapord River. Larvae were obtained from eggs laid by females collected in the field, and which were fed on rabbits in the laboratory. Larvae of O. guaporensis are morphologically closely related to Ornithodoros rioplatensis, Ornithodoros puertoricensis and Ornithodoros talaje. Larvae of O. guaporensis and O. rioplatensis can be separated from O. puertoricensis and O. talaje by the number of pairs of dorsal setae (20 in O. guaporensis and O. rioplatensis, 18 in O. puertoricensis and 17 in O. talaje). Larvae of O. guaporensis and O. rioplatensis can be differentiated by the medial dental formula (2/2 in O. guaporensis and 3/3 in O. rioplatensis) and the apex of the hypostome, which is more pointed in O. rioplatensis than in O. guaporensis. The Principal Component Analysis performed with morphometric characters of larvae showed a clear separation among O. guaporensis, O. rioplatensis, O. puertoricensis and O. talaje. Significant morphological differences among adults of these four species were not found. The analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences allowed for the differentiation between O. guaporensis and the remaining Neotropical species of the family Argasidae.
Argasidae
Ornithodoros
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A literature review and compilation of the tick specimens found in Peru and now held in the National Tick Collection was carried out to develop a working list of the tick species likely to be found in Peru. Evidence of 44 species (29 Ixodididae, 15 Argasidae) was found; representatives of 40 species are held as reference specimens. This report adds 14 species to the previously published list.
Argasidae
Parasitiformes
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