First record of Ixodes luciae (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing Marmosops noctivagus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in South America

Abstract

This study reports the first record of parasitism of Ixodes luciae Sénevet, on the marsupial Marmosops noctivagus (Tschudi), in Brazil and in South America. The tick I. luciae, previously recorded in Brazil in the Amazonas state, was collected from the marsupial using a flight intercept trap suspended 28 meters above ground, at the canopy level, in an area located 60 km north from Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. It is the first time this marsupial has been collected with this type of trap, representing a bycatch collection. Both records highlight significant contributions to better understanding host-parasite interactions and the biodiversity of the Amazonian ecosystem. Both 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA sequences showed 100% identity with previously available I. luciae sequences. Molecular analysis did not indicate the presence of Rickettsiales agents in I. luciae.