Conspecific hyperparasitism in two Ornithodoros species (Ixodida: Argasidae) endemic to Brazil, and interspecific hyperparasitism between Amblyomma sculptum and Rhipicephalus microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae)

Thiago F Martins; Simone M Simons; Caio Monteiro; Haile D F Chagas; Rafael A Carvalho; Arthur M Santana; Darci M Barros-Battesti; Glauber M B de Oliveira; Livio M Costa-Junior; Marcelo B Labruna; Hermes R Luz

doi:10.1007/s10493-025-01025-7

Conspecific hyperparasitism in two Ornithodoros species (Ixodida: Argasidae) endemic to Brazil, and interspecific hyperparasitism between Amblyomma sculptum and Rhipicephalus microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae)

Exp Appl Acarol. 2025 May 21;95(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s10493-025-01025-7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Department of Health, Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.
³ Parasitology Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
⁵ Departments of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁶ Parasite Control Laboratory, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
⁷ Parasite Control Laboratory, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. hermes.luz@ufma.br.

PMID: 40397241
DOI: 10.1007/s10493-025-01025-7

Abstract

Hyperparasitism has been observed in soft and hard tick species around the world. In Brazil, the phenomenon of hyperparasitism has only been observed conspecifically in hard ticks of the genus Amblyomma. In the present study, we report unprecedented cases of hyperparasitism in soft and hard ticks. Conspecific hyperparasitism is reported for Ornithodoros fonsecai and Ornithodoros tabajara, while interspecific hyperparasitism is reported for Amblyomma sculptum on Rhipicephalus microplus.

Keywords: Amblyomma; Ornithodoros; Rhipicephalus; Acari; Argasidae; Ixodidae.

MeSH terms

Amblyomma* / growth & development
Amblyomma* / parasitology
Amblyomma* / physiology
Animals
Brazil
Female
Larva / growth & development
Larva / parasitology
Larva / physiology
Male
Ornithodoros* / growth & development
Ornithodoros* / parasitology
Ornithodoros* / physiology
Rhipicephalus* / growth & development
Rhipicephalus* / parasitology
Rhipicephalus* / physiology
Species Specificity
Tick Infestations / parasitology
Tick Infestations / veterinary