The Ixodes auritulus complex (Acari: Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) in the Southern Cone of America.

Ixodes auritulus Neumann, 1904 (Acari: Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) represents a species complex principally associated to birds belonging to the orders Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Passeriformes, Piciformes, Pelecaniformes, Procellariiformes, Strigiformes, and Tinamiformes in both immature and adult stages. This is a cosmopolitan tick species whose distribution encompass the Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic and Neotropical Zoogeographic Regions, and Pacific Oceans islands. Ixodes auritulus sensu stricto was described from southern Chile, and recently new species from this complex were described based only on morphological characters.

Type specimens of the world's hard tick species (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae): collection data and depositories for all valid names and the current status of invalid names.

The hard tick family Ixodidae currently comprises 786 species worldwide, plus many invalid names, synonyms, and names that are incertae sedis, nomina nuda, or nomina dubia, as well as suppressed names. For both the valid and invalid tick species, we provide critically important information on their type specimens, including depositories, type localities and type hosts. Additionally, we include the current taxonomic status of 226 invalid names where type information is lacking.

Description of two new species in the Ixodes ricinus complex from the New World (Acari: Ixodidae), and redescription of Ixodes affinis Neumann, 1899.

Ixodes chacoensis n. sp. is described based on males, females, nymphs and larvae collected from vegetation, ungulates and passerine birds in northeastern Argentina.

Geographic distribution of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) of the world by countries and territories.

The hard tick family Ixodidae currently comprises 762 species worldwide, but an analysis of the occurrence of these species in the world´s countries, territories, zoogeographic regions (Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, Palearctic) and remote islands has not been attempted since 2009. Here, we present and critically discuss distributional data for all currently accepted ixodid species known from 226 countries and territories in six zoogeographic realms. This summary of ixodid tick biogeography should prove to be a valuable reference for biologists interested in ticks as organisms as well as specialists focusing on tick-borne diseases.

Worldwide host associations of the tick genus Ixodes suggest relationships based on environmental sharing rather than on co-phylogenetic events.

Background: This study aims to capture how ticks of the genus Ixodes gained their hosts using network constructs. We propose two alternative hypotheses, namely, an ecological background (ticks and hosts sharing environmentally available conditions) and a phylogenetic one, in which both partners co-evolved, adapting to existing environmental conditions after the association took place.

Methods: We used network constructs linking all the known pairs of associations between each species and stage of ticks with families and orders of hosts.

Do parapatric populations of the ticks Amblyomma tonelliae Nava, Beati & Labruna, 2014 and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 (Acari: Ixodidae) hybridize?

This work aimed to determine if the tick species, Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma tonelliae, hybridize along their contact zones in Argentina. Free-living adults and nymphs of A. sculptum and A.

Assessment of habitat suitability for the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in temperate areas.

The aim of this research was to analyze and model the aptitude of temperate areas to support permanent populations of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, which is principally distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. This work integrated field-derived data of tick development with temperature and land-based models of tick spread in Argentina. The integrated analysis of the results suggest that approximately 31°S is the southern limit where R.

Resistance of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to fluazuron in Argentina.

The aim of this work is to report the presence of resistance to fluazuron in a population of Rhipicephalus microplus in Argentina. The evidence was obtained from field and in vitro trials. In the field trial, cattle infested with ticks was treated with two commercial formulations of fluazuron.

Exotic tick detected in Argentina on a tourist returning from South Africa.

The aim of this study was to report the finding of a nymph attached to an Argentinean tourist returning from South Africa. The nymph specimen was morphologically analysed, submitted to DNA extraction and amplifying the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene. Additionally, the nymph DNA was screened for Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infection.

Ixodidae (Acari: Ixodoidea): descriptions and redescriptions of all known species from 1758 to December 31, 2019.

References to the descriptions and redescriptions of the 742 species of Ixodidae published from 1758 to December 31, 2019 are compiled, with the goal of enabling tick taxonomists to readily access this diffuse and often confusing literature. Additionally, data resulting from this effort are critically analyzed to demonstrate the problems attending correct identification of several tick species that are of medical, veterinary and/or evolutionary importance, and to highlight the need for new or enhanced diagnostic techniques. Recent morphological and molecular studies indicate that some ixodid species names represent more than one taxon; therefore, it is expected that new species will be described in the near future, based partly on material already deposited in museums around the world.

Ixodes silvanus n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new member of the subgenus Trichotoixodes Reznik, 1961 from northwestern Argentina.

Females, nymphs, and larvae of Ixodes silvanus n. sp. collected from birds and from the vegetation in northwestern Argentina (Yungas Phytogeographic Province) are described herein.

Resistance of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to ivermectin in Argentina.

Resistance to ivermectin in populations of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Argentina was diagnosed in this work. The in vitro larval immersion test (LIT) was used to determine quantitatively the levels of resistance to ivermectin in different populations of R. microplus.

A community approach to the Neotropical ticks-hosts interactions.

The relationships between ticks and hosts are relevant to capture the ecological background driving the evolution of these parasites. We used a set of 4,764 records of ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Ixodes, and Haemaphysalis and their hosts in the Neotropics to approach the tick-host relationships using a network-based construct. The network identified 9 clusters of interacting hosts and ticks partially connected by 22 tick species that switch their host range according to their life cycle stage.

Description of a new species of Ixodes (Acari: Ixodidae) and first report of Ixodes lasallei and Ixodes bocatorensis in Brazil.

In a recent study, we relegated the taxon Ixodes aragaoi Fonseca, 1935 to a junior synonym of Ixodes fuscipes Koch, 1844, and reinstated Ixodes spinosusNeumann, 1899 (a former synonym of I. fuscipes) to a valid species. We examined all lots of ticks formerly identified as I.

Synonymy of Ixodes aragaoi with Ixodes fuscipes, and reinstatement of Ixodes spinosus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Ixodes fuscipes Koch, 1844, described from Brazil, has been considered a valid species with records from Brazil and Peru. Ixodes spinosus Neumann, 1899, also described from Brazil, has been considered a synonym of I. fuscipes.

Species occurrence of ticks in South America, and interactions with biotic and abiotic traits.

The datasets of records of the distribution of ticks and their hosts are invaluable tools to understand the phylogenetic patterns of evolution of ticks and the abiotic traits to which they are associated. Such datasets require an exhaustive collection of bibliographical references. In most cases, it is necessary the confirmation of reliable identification of ticks, together with an update of the scientific names of the vertebrate hosts.

The Ixodes ricinus complex (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Southern Cone of America: Ixodes pararicinus, Ixodes aragaoi, and Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis.

The goal of this study was to clarify the taxonomic status of the Ixodes ricinus complex in the Southern Cone of America, by using morphological characters and molecular markers (mitochondrial 16SrDNA and cox1 genes). The morphological analysis indicates that three different taxa of the I. ricinus complex occur in this region: Ixodes pararicinus, Ixodes aragaoi, and Ixodes sp.

Vector Competence for West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus () of Three Tick Species of the Genus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Many species of ticks are commonly found infesting wild birds in South America, where birds are important hosts for several arboviruses, such as West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV). In this study, WNV and SLEV transmission experiments were performed to evaluate the vector competence of three South American tick species: , , and .

The Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) group of ticks: phenotypic plasticity or incipient speciation?

Background: The goal of this study was to reassess the taxonomic status of A. maculatum, A. triste and A.

Ixodes chilensis Kohls, 1956 (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae): re-description of the female, description of the nymph, and phylogenetic position inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene.

This paper provides a re-description of the female and a description of the nymph of Ixodes chilensis Kohls, 1956. Additionally, the phylogenetic position of the species of Ixodes Latreille, 1796 belonging to the subgenus Pholeoixodes Schulze, 1942 was analysed and discussed based on a phylogenetic pattern obtained with mitochondrial DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. The diagnostic characters unique for the female of I.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806): Neotype designation, morphological re-description of all parasitic stages and molecular characterization.

The aims of this work were to re-describe all parasitic stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto, to select and deposit a neotype, and to characterize some of its diagnostic molecular traits. A male of R. sanguineus s.

Factors associated with hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitism in medium-sized mammals in the Atlantic Rainforest region of Argentina.

Associations with environmental and host parameters were assessed to describe tick parasitism patterns in two medium-sized mammals of the Atlantic rainforest region of Argentina. Ticks found on 93 specimens of Nasua nasua and 26 specimens of Didelphis aurita captured at six sites in the Iguazú National Park were collected. Generalized linear models were constructed to explain the presence and abundance of ticks and the most appropriate ones were selected after stepwise simplification.

Seasonal dynamics, geographical range size, hosts, genetic diversity and phylogeography of Amblyomma sculptum in Argentina.

The aim of this work was to generate knowledge on ecological aspects of Amblyomma sculptum in Argentina, such as seasonal dynamics, geographical range size, hosts, genetic diversity and phylogeography. Adult and immature A. sculptum ticks were collected in different localities of Argentina to know the geographical range size and hosts.

Host-parasite association between Didelphis albiventris (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) and Ixodes loricatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in their southern ranges.

The parasitism of Ixodes loricatus Neumann on white-eared opposum, Didelphis albiventris Lund, was analysed in the southern ranges of both. In central Argentina, 118 wild opossums were captured from 2005 to 2012. Adults of I.