Neotropical hard ticks (Acari : Ixodida : Ixodidae) : a critical analysis of their taxonomy, distribution, and host relationships

Of the 758 species of hard ticks (family Ixodidae) currently known to science, 137 (18%) are found in the Neotropical Zoogeographic Region, an area that extends from the eastern and western flanks of the Mexican Plateau southward to southern Argentina and Chile and that also includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Galápagos Islands. This vast and biotically rich region has long attracted natural scientists, with the result that the literature on Neotropical ticks, which are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human disease and are of paramount veterinary importance, is enormous, diffuse, and often inaccessible to non-specialists. In this book, three leading authorities on the Ixodidae have combined their talents to produce a summary of essential information for every Neotropical tick species. Under each species name, readers will find an account of the original taxonomic description and subsequent redescriptions, followed by an overview of its geographic distribution and host relationships, including a discussion of human parasitism. Additional sections provide detailed analyses of tick distribution by country and zoogeographic subregion (the Caribbean, southern Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Galápagos Islands), together with a review of the phenomenon of invasive tick species and examination of the many valid and invalid names that have appeared in the Neotropical tick literature. The text concludes with an unprecedented tabulation of all known hosts of Neotropical Ixodidae, including the tick life history stages collected from each host. This book is an invaluable reference for biologists and biomedical personnel seeking to familiarize themselves with the Neotropical tick fauna. Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Methodology Contents Chapter 1: Prostriata Group: Genus Ixodes Chapter 2: Metastriata Group: Genus Amblyomma Chapter 3: Metastriata: Genera Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Rhipicephalus Chapter 4: Geographic Distribution, Invasive Species, and Incorrect Names Applied to Neotropical Ixodids 4.1 Geographic Distribution 4.1.1 Species of Ixodidae Found in Neotropical Countries and Territories 4.1.2 Species of Ixodidae Found in Neotropical Subregions 4.1.2.1 Prostriata: Genus Ixodes 4.1.2.2 Metastriata 4.2 Invasive Hard Tick Species Found in the Neotropics 4.3 A Non-exhaustive List of Valid and Invalid Names of Ixodidae Incorrectly or Doubtfully Applied to Ixodids Found in Neotrop... 4.3.1 Prostriata: Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Ixodes 4.3.2 Metastriata 4.3.2.1 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Amblyomma 4.3.2.2 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Dermacentor 4.3.2.3 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Haemaphysalis 4.3.2.4 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Hyalomma 4.3.2.5 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Margaropus 4.3.2.6 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Rhipicephalus 4.3.2.7 Incorrect Names Associated with the Genus Robertsicus Chapter 5: Animal and Human Parasitism, and Lists of Hosts of Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1 Host-Tick Associations in Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1.1 Amphibia as Hosts for Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1.1.1 Anura 5.1.1.2 Synopsis 5.1.2 Reptilia as Hosts for Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1.2.1 Crocodilia 5.1.2.2 Squamata 5.1.2.3 Testudines 5.1.2.4 Synopsis 5.1.3 Aves as Hosts for Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1.3.1 Accipitriformes 5.1.3.2 Caprimulgiformes 5.1.3.3 Cariamiformes 5.1.3.4 Cathartiformes 5.1.3.5 Charadriiformes 5.1.3.6 Columbiformes 5.1.3.7 Coraciiformes 5.1.3.8 Cuculiformes 5.1.3.9 Falconiformes 5.1.3.10 Galbuliformes 5.1.3.11 Galliformes 5.1.3.12 Gruiformes 5.1.3.13 Passeriformes 5.1.3.14 Pelecaniformes 5.1.3.15 Piciformes 5.1.3.16 Procellariiformes 5.1.3.17 Psittaciformes 5.1.3.18 Rheiformes 5.1.3.19 Sphenisciformes 5.1.3.20 Strigiformes 5.1.3.21 Suliformes 5.1.3.22 Tinamiformes 5.1.3.23 Trogonifomes 5.1.3.24 Synopsis 5.1.4 Mammalia as Hosts for Neotropical Ixodidae 5.1.4.1 Artiodactyla (Cetacea Excluded) 5.1.4.2 Carnivora 5.1.4.3 Chiroptera 5.1.4.4 Cingulata 5.1.4.5 Didelphimorphia 5.1.4.6 Eulipotyphla 5.1.4.7 Lagomorpha 5.1.4.8 Microbiotheria 5.1.4.9 Paucituberculata 5.1.4.10 Perissodactyla 5.1.4.11 Pilosa 5.1.4.12 Primates 5.1.4.13 Rodentia 5.1.4.14 Synopsis 5.2 Host Profiles of Neotropical Genera of Ixodidae 5.2.1 Host Profile of Prostriata: Genus Ixodes 5.2.2 Host Profile of Metastriata 5.3 Human Parasitism Conclusions Appendix: List of Hosts for Neotropical Ixodidae with Tick Species and Parasitic Stages Found on Them Amphibia Anura Reptilia Crocodilia Squamata Testudines Aves Accipitriformes Caprimulgiformes Cariamiformes Cathartiformes Charadriiformes Columbiformes Coraciiformes Cuculiformes Falconiformes Galbuliformes Galliformes Gruiformes Passeriformes Pelecaniformes Piciformes Procellariiformes Psittaciformes Rheiformes Sphenisciformes Strigiformes Suliformes Tinamiformes Trogoniformes Mammalia Artiodactyla Carnivora Chiroptera Cingulata Didelphimorphia Eulipotyphla Lagomorpha Microbiotheria Paucituberculata Perissodactyla Pilosa Primates Rodentia References Of the 758 species of hard ticks (family Ixodidae) currently known to science, 137 (18%) are found in the Neotropical Zoogeographic Region, an area that extends from the eastern and western flanks of the Mexican Plateau southward to southern Argentina and Chile and that also includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Galapagos Islands. This vast and biotically rich region has long attracted natural scientists, with the result that the literature on Neotropical ticks, which are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human disease and are of paramount veterinary importance, is enormous, diffuse, and often inaccessible to non-specialists. In this book, three leading authorities on the Ixodidae have combined their talents to produce a summary of essential information for every Neotropical tick species. Under each species name, readers will find an account of the original taxonomic description and subsequent redescriptions, followed by an overview of its geographic distribution and host relationships, including a discussion of human parasitism. Additional sections provide detailed analyses of tick distribution by country and zoogeographic subregion (the Caribbean, southern Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Galapagos Islands), together with a review of the phenomenon of invasive tick species and examination of the many valid and invalid names that have appeared in the Neotropical tick literature. The text concludes with an unprecedented tabulation of all known hosts of Neotropical Ixodidae, including the tick life history stages collected from each host. This book is an invaluable reference for biologists and biomedical personnel seeking to familiarize themselves with the Neotropical tick fauna