The importation of live animals, especially reptiles, has contributed to the transport and introduction of exotic ticks in many regions of the world. We describe the finding of 11 specimens (one male, two females and eight nymphs) of Amblyomma varanense collected from two common water monitors (Varanus salvator) legally imported from Jakarta, Indonesia. Amblyomma varanense is a tick distributed in the Eastern and Australasian zoogeographic regions, and V. salvator is among the main hosts. It is necessary to prevent the introduction of exotic ticks and associated microorganisms, highlighting the risk involved in the importation of exotic vertebrates.

La importación de animales vivos, especialmente reptiles, ha contribuido al transporte e introducción de garrapatas exóticas en muchas regiones del mundo. Se describe el hallazgo de 11 especímenes (un macho, dos hembras y ocho ninfas) de Amblyomma varanense colectados de dos varanos acuáticos (Varanus salvator) importados legalmente desde Jakarta, Indonesia. Amblyomma varanense es una garrapata distribuida en las regiones zoogeográficas Oriental y de Australasia, y V. salvator se encuentra entre los principales hospedadores. Es necesario prevenir la introducción de garrapatas exóticas y microrganismos asociados, poniéndose en evidencia el riesgo que conlleva la importación de vertebrados exóticos

The resistance of a population of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) to fipronil 1% (ECTOLINE®) in the east of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, is described in this work. The trials were performed as replicates in two establishments: "Establishment A" and "Establishment B". The differences in the level of tick infestation between treated and control groups in the Establishment A were not significant. The efficacy percentage ranged from 27.3% to 69.3%. Contrarily, the differences between treated and control groups in the Establishment B were significant, with efficacy percentage increasing from 87.6% (day 2 post-treatment) to 95.4% (day 7 post-treatment). The eclosion rates of the eggs produced by the engorged females collected in both treated and control groups in Establishment A were similar. The application of fipronil 1% in the Establishment B had an efficacy almost absolute, because even though the therapeutic efficacy did not reach 100%, the reproductive viability of the engorged females collected on the treated cattle was null. The results of this work constitute the first published record of a population of R. microplus resistant to fipronil 1% under field conditions in Argentina.

En este trabajo se describe la resistencia de una población Rhipicephalus microplus resistente al fipronil 1% (ECTOLINE®) en condiciones de campo en el este de Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Las pruebas fueron realizadas a modo de réplicas en dos establecimientos: "Establecimiento A" y "Establecimiento B". En el Establecimiento A las diferencias en los niveles de infestación con garrapatas entre los grupos tratado y control nunca fueron estadísticamente significativas. Los porcentajes de eficacia oscilaron entre 27,3% y 69,3%. En el Establecimiento B las diferencias entre los grupos tratado y control fueron significativas, con porcentajes de eficacia aumentando de 87,6% el día 2 post-tratamiento a 95,4% el día 7 post-tratamiento. Las tasas de eclosión de los huevos originados de las teleóginas colectadas de los grupos tratados y control en el Establecimiento A fueron similares. La aplicación de fipronil 1% en el Establecimiento B tuvo una eficacia global prácticamente absoluta, porque si bien la eficacia terapéutica no alcanzó el 100%, la viabilidad reproductiva de las teleóginas obtenidas de los bovinos tratados fue nula. Los resultados del presente trabajo constituyen el primer registro publicado de una población de R. microplus resistente al fipronil 1% en condiciones de campo en Argentina.

The relationship between birds (Aves) and hard ticks (Ixodidae) was analyzed for the 386 of 725 tick extant species whose larva, nymph and adults are known as well as their natural hosts. A total of 136 (54 Prostriata= Ixodes, 82 Metastriata= all other genera) are frequently found on Aves, but only 32 species (1 associated with Palaeognathae, 31 with Neognathae) have all parasitic stages feeding on birds: 25 Ixodes (19% of the species analyzed for this genus), 6 Haemaphysalis (7%) and 1 species of Amblyomma (2%). The species of Amblyomma feeds on marine birds (MB), the six Haemaphysalis are parasites of non-marine birds (NMB), and 14 of the 25 Ixodes feed on NMB, one feeds on NMB and MB, and ten on MB. The Australasian Ixodes + I. uriae clade probably originated at an uncertain time from the late Triassic to the early Cretaceous. It is speculated that Prostriata first hosts were Gondwanan theropod dinosaurs in an undetermined place before Pangaea break up; alternatively, if ancestral monotromes were involved in its evolution an Australasian origin of Prostriata seems plausible. As for Prostriata the Motherland of Ixodida is probably Gondwana.

En esta revisión se analizó la relación entre aves y garrapatas duras (Ixodidae) para las 386 de 725 especies de garrapatas que utilizan aves como hospedadores para larvas, ninfas y adultos. Un total de 136 especies (54 Prostriata= Ixodes, 82 Metastriata= restantes géneros) son frecuentemente encontradas sobre aves, pero solo 32 especies (1 asociada con Palaeognathae, 31 con Neognathae) tienen ciclos donde todos los estadios se alimentan sobre aves: 25 Ixodes (19% de las especies analizadas para este género), 6 Haemaphysalis (7% del total) y 1 especie de Amblyomma (2% del total). Las especies de Amblyomma se alimentan sobre aves marinas (MB), las seis de Haemaphysalis son parásitas de aves no-marinas (NMB), y 14 de las 25 especies de Ixodes se alimentan sobre NMB, una sobre NMB y MB, y diez sobre MB. El clado de Australasia Ixodes + I. uriae probablemente se originó entre el fin del Triásico y comienzos del Cretácico. Se especula que los primeros hospedadores de Prostriata fueron dinosaurios terópodos con distribución Gondwánica; alternativamente, si monotremas ancestrales estuvieron involucrados en su evolución, un origen de Prostriata en Australasia es plausible. Al igual que para Prostriata, el área de origen de Ixodida es probablemente Gondwana.

There have been no reports of the endemic Ornithodoros brasiliensis (Aragão) in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, since the 1950s. In January 2007, 21 O. brasiliensis ticks were collected in a rural area named "Cruzinha" in the municipality of São Francisco de Paula, RS, and another population was sampled later that year (October) in Vargem do Cedro, another rural area of São Francisco de Paula, following reports of human parasitism by ticks. The reappearance of this tick is a reason for concern in terms of public health.

A prerequisite for understanding the impact of Mycoplasma suis infection on pig production and its epidemiological dynamics in infected regions, is the development of diagnostic techniques to discriminate infected from non-infected populations. The objectives of this study were to confirm the presence of M. suis infection in Argentina, and to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of both an Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay (IIFA) and a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of the agent. Blood was collected from 282 pigs belonging to 38 farms. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the tests were estimated using a Bayesian model for conditional dependant results and without assuming a gold standard. PCR was estimated to be a highly sensitive (Se = 0.982, CI95% = 0.942-0.997) and highly specific (Sp = 0.946; CI95% = 0.873-0.984) method for diagnosis of M. suis infection in the assessed population. A significantly (P < 0.05) lower sensitivity (Se = 0.682, CI95% = 0.615-0.753) and specificity (Sp = 0.787, CI95% = 0.712-0.863) was estimated for the IIFA. Correlation among tests results was low, both for infected (R = 0.010, CI95% = -0.118-0.195) and non-infected (R = 0.049, CI95% = -0.133-0.407) individuals. The posterior estimate of the probability of finding an infected animal in the study population, which approximates the prevalence of the disease in the sampled animals, was 0.622 (CI95% = 0.554-0.684). The study was successful in confirming the presence of M. suis infection in Argentina and the accuracy of the PCR for the detection of the agent.

Para comprender el impacto de la infección por Mycoplasma suis en la producción de cerdos, así como la dinámica epidemiológica en las regiones infectadas, se necesita desarrollar métodos diagnósticos capaces de diferenciar los individuos infectados de los no infectados. Los objetivos del estudio fueron confirmar la presencia de la infección por M. suis en la Argentina y estimar la sensibilidad (S) y la especificidad (E) de las pruebas de inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) y de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) para la detección del agente. Se recolectó sangre de 282 cerdos pertenecientes a 38 granjas. La S y la E de los tests fueron estimadas utilizando un modelo Bayesiano para resultados condicionalmente dependientes y en ausencia de una prueba de oro. Se estimó que la PCR era un método con una S y E elevadas (S = 0,982, IC95% = 0,942-0,997; E = 0,946, IC95% = 0,873-0,984). Para la prueba de IFI se estimaron una S y E significativamente (P < 0.05) menores (S = 0,682, IC95% = 0,615-0,753; E = 0,787, IC95% = 0,712-0,863). La correlación entre los resultados de las pruebas fue bajo tanto para los animales infectados (R = 0,010, CI95% = -0,118-0,195) como para los no infectados (R = 0,049, CI95% = -0,133-0,407). La probabilidad a posteriori de encontrar un animal infectado en una población con una prevalencia similar a la de los animales muestreados fue de 0,622 (IC95% = 0,554-0,684). El estudio pudo confirmar la presencia de M. suis en Argentina y la habilidad diagnóstica de la PCR para la detección de la bacteria.

A review of the ticks (Acari, Ixodida) of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, was completed as a step towards a definitive list (currently indicated as 12) of such species, their hosts and distribution. The ticks: Argas miniatus (poultry), Ixodes loricatus (opossums), Amblyomma aureolatum (dogs), A. calcaratum (anteaters), A. cooperi (capybaras), A. nodosum (anteaters), A. tigrinum (dogs) (Neotropical) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (dogs) (introduced, cosmopolitan, Afrotropical) were confirmed as present, in addition to the predominant, Boophilus microplus (cattle) (introduced, pan-tropical, Oriental). Of the further 18 species thus far reported in the literature as present in the state, but unavailable for examination: only Ornithodoros brasiliensis (humans and their habitations) (Neotropical), Ixodes affinis (deer) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and I. auritulus (birds) (Nearctic/Neotropical/Afrotropical/ Australasian) are considered likely; 13 species would benefit from corroborative local data but the majority appear unlikely; reports of A. maculatum (Nearctic/Neotropical, but circum-Caribbean) are considered erroneous; the validity of A. fuscum is in doubt. The very recent, first known report of the tropical Anocentor nitens (horses)(Nearctic/Neotropical), but still apparent absence of the tropical A. cajennense (catholic) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and the sub-tropical/temperate Ixodes pararicinus (cattle) (Neotropical) in Rio Grande do Sul are important for considerations on their current biogeographical distribution and its dynamics in South America. The state has relatively long established, introduced ("exotic"), Old World tick species (B. microplus, R. sanguineus) that continue to represent significant pests and disease vectors to their traditional, introduced domestic animal hosts, cattle and urban dogs. There are also indigenous, New World ticks (A. miniatus, O. brasiliensis, A. aureolatum, A. nitens), as both long established and possibly newly locally introduced species in the state, that should be considered as potential and emergent pests and pathogen vectors to humans and their more recently acquired, introduced domestic animal hosts; rural poultry, dogs and horses.