Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão (Acari: Argasidae): description of the larva, redescription of male and female, and neotype designation

Abstract

Ornithodoros brasiliensis is an endemic tick from Brazil and is very aggressive to humans, resulting in pain, fever and intense inflammatory response. After more than 50 years without report, this species was recently found in rural areas of São Francisco de Paula municipality, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, from where it was originally described. Herein, we describe the larva and redescribe the adults of O. brasiliensis based on scanning electron microscopy. Since the type was lost we designate the neotype specimen under the number IBSP 10409. In addition, the relationship between O. brasiliensis and other species from the Neotropical region that share the morphological characteristics of Ornithodoros with dorsal humps on tarsi, and also live under the soil and feed on hosts other than bats, are discussed. Molecular analysis inferred from a portion of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene is also provided and it placed O. brasiliensis in a cluster supported by a maximal bootstrap value (100%) with Ornithodoros parkeri, Ornithodoros rostratus, and Ornithodoros turicata.