Ticks on birds in a forest fragment of Brazilian cerrado (savanna) in the municipality of Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The research article presents findings on tick species, parasite prevalence and the intensity of infestation on various bird species within a segment of Brazilian savanna, specifically in the Uberlândia municipality in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Research Methodology

• A total of 162 birds originating from 26 distinct species were captured and examined for the presence of ticks.
• Tick infestation was measured in numerous stages of the tick lifecycle: larvae, nymphs, and adults.
• An additional exploration was performed to identify ticks on the ground within the forest over a two-year span.
• Domestic animals such as cattle, horses, and dogs, were investigated as an alternative to birds as potential hosts for ticks.

Findings

• One adult tick, 296 larvae, and 67 nymphs were located on passerines, also known as perching birds.
• Identification was possible on numerous species of Amblyomma ticks including Amblyomma longirostre, A. nodosum, and A. cajennense. A lone male of Rhipicephalus sanguineus was also identified among the collected specimens.
• The rest of the ticks remained unidentified and were categorised as Amblyomma species larvae (264 collected) and nymphs (26 collected).
• The intensity of overall tick infestation was calculated as an average, 4.32 ticks per infested bird. About 52% of the birds were found to be afflicted by ticks.
• The survey executed on the forest floor resulted in the discovery of only five Amblyomma nymphs and one adult male of A. nodosum. Domestic animals hosted Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks.

Conclusions

• The study suggests that there is no correlation between tick infestation in domestic animals and birds or the environment.
• Researchers postulate that bird infestation might occur above ground level or in particular unsampled sites. The potential of birds serving as hosts for unique tick species could also vary, depending on location and aerial habits.