Laboratory life cycle of Ornithodoros brasiliensis (Acari: Argasidae): An endemic tick from southern Brazil

Abstract

Aragão is an endemic tick restricted to the highlands of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This species is very aggressive toward humans, causing fever, great pain and intense inflammatory response at the bite site. It is also very aggressive toward dogs, and tick toxicosis syndrome has been reported in this host. In order to elucidate the biology of this tick, the present study describes its life cycle under laboratory conditions, using guinea pigs as hosts for two generations. In the nonparasitic phase, the ticks were maintained in sand, in an incubator under controlled conditions. The larvae molted to the nymphal stage without feeding, and five nymphal stages (N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5) were observed in both generations. In both generations emergence of adults started from N3 when sex ratio was 0.85:1 (23 males and 27 females) in F1 and 0.63:1 (34 males and 54 females) in F2. For both generations, N4 generated more females, while N5 only produced females. The pre-ecdysis period of the nymphs ranged from 31.1 to 38.6 days. Two gonotrophic cycles were observed, and the first one presented a higher average number of eggs deposited (N=139) than the second (N=73.8). The mean duration of the life cycle (egg to egg) of O. brasiliensis was 215.4 days for the first generation and 195 days for the second.

Keywords: Laboratory; Life cycle; Ornithodoros brasiliensis; Soft tick.