Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae, Argasidae) from humans, domestic and wild animals in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, with notes on rickettsial infection

Among the 69 tick species currently recognized in Brazil, only 13 have been reported in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. This study reports new tick records from Espírito Santo, and investigated the infection by rickettsial bacteria in these ticks. During 2012-2016, ticks were occasionally collected from different sources in Espírito Santo. In addition, we revised tick unpublished records from Espírito Santo in a tick collection. A total of 1263 tick specimens comprising 19 tick species (17 Ixodidae, 2 Argasidae) were collected. The following seven tick species are reported for the first time in Espírito Santo: Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma varium, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, and Ornithodoros hasei. The only tick species previously reported for Espírito Santo, but not found in the present study, is A. longirostre. A total of 194 ticks of 7 species were tested for rickettsial infection. Three Rickettsia species were detected: Rickettsia bellii in A. aureolatum, Rickettsia rhipicephali in H. juxtakochi, and Rickettsia amblyommii in A. humerale. The present study increases the tick fauna of Espírito Santo to 20 species (29% of the Brazilian tick fauna). Additionally, 3 Rickettsia species are reported for the first time in this region of Brazil.