Amblyomma cordiferum Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing reticulated pythons, Malayopython reticulatus (Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Pythonidae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Li Peng Tan; Siew Shean Choong; Ahmad Syazwan Samsuddin; Seng Hua Lee

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101285

Amblyomma cordiferum Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing reticulated pythons, Malayopython reticulatus (Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Pythonidae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019 Oct;10(6):101285. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101285. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Authors

Li Peng Tan¹, Siew Shean Choong², Ahmad Syazwan Samsuddin³, Seng Hua Lee⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address: li.peng@umk.edu.my.
² Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
³ Mycology and Pathology Branch, Forest Biodiversity Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: lee_seng@upm.edu.my.

PMID: 31494069
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101285

Abstract

Two ticks were collected from a reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) caught in Tumpat District, Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia. The ticks were first identified as Ambylomma sp. through morphological comparison with identification keys. Determination of the tick species was made through PCR and sequencing. However, BLAST analysis revealed 85-88% sequence nucleotide identity with Amblyomma nitidum and Amblyomma geoemydae. Additionally, the morphological features of the ticks collected in this study did not match either A. nitidum or A. geoemydae. Further examination of the ticks confirmed the species as Amblyomma cordiferum. This is the first record of A. cordiferum DNA sequence with morphological support of colour illustrations for adult A. cordiferum. This is also the most recent record of this host association in Peninsular Malaysia. Information from this report can serve as a reference for species identification using the described morphology or molecular sequences.

Keywords: Malaysia; Python; Reptile; Ticks.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Boidae*
Female
Ixodidae / classification
Ixodidae / physiology*
Malaysia
Phylogeny
Tick Infestations / parasitology
Tick Infestations / veterinary*