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Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria2024; 33(2); e001924; doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612024036

Tabanidae (Diptera) collected on horses in a Cerrado biome in the state of Tocantins, Brazil.

Abstract: Tabanidae (Diptera), popularly known as horse flies, is an important vector group. This is the first study to ascertain the abundance and diversity of horse flies in horses at the cerrado biome of the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Collecting took place in typical Cerrado, and sampling occurred in the dry and rainy seasons. The horseflies were collected from horses using an entomological net. A total of 249 individuals were collected and spread over 25 species. The prevalent species were Stypommisa aripuana (25.8%) and Catachlorops rufescens (6.4%), in the dry period, and Fidena lissorhina (22.5%), Tabanus occidentalis var. dorsovittatus (10%) and Poeciloderas quadripunctatus (6.4%), in the rainy season. The results suggest that tabanids attack horses throughout the dry and rainy seasons, posing a constant threat to their health in the Cerrado of Tocantins. Os tabanídeos, popularmente conhecidos como mutucas, representam um importante grupo de vetores. Este é o primeiro estudo a verificar a abundância e diversidade de mutucas em cavalos, no bioma cerrado do estado do Tocantins, Brasil. As coletas ocorreram em ambiente típico de Cerrado e as amostragens nos períodos seco e chuvoso. Mutucas foram coletadas de cavalos por meio de rede entomológica. Um total de 249 indivíduos foi coletado, representando 25 espécies. As espécies mais abundantes foram (25,8%) e (6,4%), no período seco, e (22,5%), var. (10%) e (6,4%), no período chuvoso. Os resultados sugerem que os tabanídeos atacam equinos ao longo das estações seca e chuvosa, constituindo uma ameaça constante à sua saúde no Cerrado do Tocantins.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-15 PubMed ID: 39016348PubMed Central: PMC11296682DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612024036Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study examined the abundance and diversity of horse flies (Tabanidae) collected directly from horses in the Cerrado biome of Tocantins, Brazil.
  • It is the first research to investigate horse fly species attacking horses in this specific region and biome across dry and rainy seasons.

Background

  • Tabanidae, commonly known as horse flies or “mutucas” in Portuguese, are an important group of blood-feeding insects that act as vectors for various diseases affecting animals and humans.
  • These flies are known to parasitize livestock such as horses, causing distress, blood loss, and potentially transmitting pathogens.
  • The Cerrado biome, a savanna-like region in Brazil, presents a unique environment where diverse species of Tabanidae may be present, but their impact on horses in this biome had not been studied before.

Study Location and Methodology

  • The research was conducted in the state of Tocantins, Brazil, within an environment typical of the Cerrado biome.
  • Sampling occurred during both dry and rainy seasons to capture potential seasonal variation in horse fly populations and species composition.
  • Horse flies were collected directly from horses using entomological nets, which allows for sampling the flies actively biting or resting on the animals.
  • A total of 249 individual horse flies were collected throughout the study.

Results – Species Diversity and Seasonality

  • The study identified 25 different species of horse flies attacking horses in the region.
  • In the dry season, the most prevalent species were:
    • Stypommisa aripuana (25.8% of total collected during dry season)
    • Catachlorops rufescens (6.4%)
  • During the rainy season, the dominant species were:
    • Fidena lissorhina (22.5%)
    • Tabanus occidentalis var. dorsovittatus (10%)
    • Poeciloderas quadripunctatus (6.4%)

Implications and Conclusions

  • The data suggest that horse flies actively attack horses in both seasons, indicating a year-round presence and potential health threat to equines in the Cerrado of Tocantins.
  • This continuous pressure may lead to stress, reduced productivity, and increased risk of vector-borne diseases in horses.
  • Understanding the species composition and seasonal abundance can inform strategies for managing and controlling horse fly populations to protect horse health.
  • As this is the first study focused on horse flies on horses in this region and biome, the findings provide baseline information for future ecological and veterinary research.

Cite This Article

APA
Costa MVD, Rodrigues GD, Lima HIL, Krolow TK, Krüger RF. (2024). Tabanidae (Diptera) collected on horses in a Cerrado biome in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet, 33(2), e001924. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612024036

Publication

Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
ISSN: 1984-2961
NlmUniqueID: 9440482
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 2
Pages: e001924
PII: e001924

Researcher Affiliations

Costa, Mariana Vaz da
  • Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade, Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Tocantins - UFT, Porto Nacional, TO, Brasil.
Rodrigues, Gratchela Dutra
  • Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Pelotas - UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
Lima, Helena Iris Leite de
  • Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas - UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
Krolow, Tiago Kütter
  • Universidade Federal do Tocantins - UFT, Porto Nacional, TO, Brasil.
Krüger, Rodrigo Ferreira
  • Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas - UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Diptera / classification
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Seasons
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Riet-Correa F, Krüger RF, Afonso JAB, Negrão JA. Trypanosomosis by Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) vivax in Ruminants in Brazil: Epidemiology, Clinical Signs, Pathology, Diagnosis, and Control. Vet Sci 2025 Sep 12;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090882pubmed: 41012807google scholar: lookup
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