Description of Amblyomma monteiroae n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), a parasite of the great horned owl (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in southern Brazil

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102239
• Publication Date: 2023-08-26T09:51:31Z
• Authors: João F. Soares; Marcelo B. Labruna; Derek B. de Amorim; Vinícius Baggio-S...; Renata Fagundes-M...; Aline Girotto-Soares; Barbara Weck; Pablo H. Nunes; Thiago F. Martins
• Keywords: Amblyomma

In 2020, adult hard ticks (males and females) were collected from great horned owls [Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788)] in the coastal region southern Brazil. The engorged females allowed to oviposit laboratory hatched larvae could be obtained. Analyses of external morphology revealed that they represent a new species, which was named Amblyomma monteiroae n. sp. Partial sequences mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene nuclear second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) generated male female. Their haplotypes identical each other closest (96% identity) corresponding parvitarsum Neumann, 1901, 90% neumanni Ribaga, 1902. ITS2 95.8 96.0 single ITS-2 partial sequence A. available GenBank. phylogenetic trees inferred by both sequences, formed clade with parvitarsum, branching sister this clade. is genetically morphologically related parvitarsum. Both tick species are unique combining following morphological characters: scutum extensively ornate; eyes rounded bulging; coxa I two moderate pointed spurs, longer than internal; triangular short spur on coxae II-III; presence spines tibia legs II-IV; hypostomal dentition 3/3, trochanters without spurs. However, males can separated specific features palps festoons, whereas differ coxal larva distinguished only morphometry, former being slightly smaller. Currently, restricted Brazil, known host B. (Strigiformes: Strigidae). present study increases Brazilian fauna 34 species.