Carrapatos (Acari: ixodidae) associados a Bothrops atrox (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Viperidae) na região amazônica oriental brasileira

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the infestation of ectoparasites on the snakes Bothrops atrox deposited in the Herpetological Collections by the Laboratory of Ecology and Aimal Behavior (LECAn) of the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA) and the Herpetological Research Line of Amazonia (LPHA), both in Santarém, Pará. A total of 128 specimens of B. atrox were examined using a Zeiss V8 stereomicroscope, in laboratory, and of these, 47 specimens presented parasitism by Amblyomma dissimile ticks and Amblyomma sp. larvae, with a general prevalence of 36%, mean intensity of 2.38, and mean abundance of 0.88 parasites per host. The chi-square analyses indicated a positive correlation between individuals from floodplain and terra firme environments, as well as significant differences between snakes age tax, suggesting that old individuals may be more susceptible to infestations of these ticks. In addition, the sites with the highest number of larvae, nimphs and adults forms of ticks, found were dorsal region, representing environments that provide protection and greater ease for ticks to attach. No found ticks in the ventral region. We present here a new parasite-host relationship between A. dissimile and B. atrox, this being the first record of tick infestation for the snake species.