Tick host specificity: An analysis based on host phylogeny and tick ecological features using Amblyomma triste and Amblyomma tigrinum immature stages

SUMMARYTicks and tick-borne pathogens can have considerable impacts on the health of livestock, wildlife and people. Knowledge of tick–host preferences is necessary for both tick and pathogen control. Ticks were historically considered as specialist parasites, but the range of sampled host species has been limited, infestation intensity has not been included in prior analyses, and phylogenetic distances between hosts have not been previously considered. We used a large dataset of 35 604 individual collections and two host-specificity indices to assess the specificity of 61 South African tick species, as well as distinctions between adult and juvenile ticks, for 95 mammalian hosts. When accounting for host phylogeny, most adult and juvenile ticks behaved as generalists, with juveniles being significantly more generalist than adults. When we included the intensity of tick infestation, ticks exhibited a wider diversity of specificity in all life stages. Our results show that ticks of mammals in South Africa tend to behave largely as generalists and that adult ticks are more host-specific. More generally, our analysis shows that the incorporation of life-stage differences, infestation intensity and phylogenetic distances between hosts, as well as the use of more than one specificity index, can all contribute to a deeper understanding of host–parasite interactions.

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Primer reporte de Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946 (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitando equinos en Uruguay

FAVE Sección Ciencias Veterinarias ◽

10.14409/favecv.v18i1.8141 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 9-11

Author(s):

María Laura FELIX ◽

José Manuel VENZAL

Keyword(s):

Rhipicephalus Microplus ◽

Amblyomma Triste ◽

Mazama Gouazoubira ◽

Amblyomma Tigrinum

Se presenta el primer reporte de Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946 parasitando equinos en Uruguay. Adultos de esta especie de garrapata fueron hallados en un equino junto a Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) en una localidad del departamento de Tacuarembó, con presencia de monte nativo denso y abundante fauna silvestre, como el ciervo guazubirá (Mazama gouazoubira), hospedador preferencial de adultos de H. juxtakochi. Con este hallazgo son cuatro las especies de garrapatas parásitas de equinos reportadas para Uruguay: R. microplus, Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844, Amblyomma triste Koch, 1844 y H. juxtakochi. La importancia médico-veterinario de H. juxtakochi en equinos es desconocida.

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The ghost of hosts past: impacts of host extinction on parasite specificity

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2020.0351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 376 (1837) ◽

pp. 20200351 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maxwell J. Farrell ◽

Andrew W. Park ◽

Clayton E. Cressler ◽

Tad Dallas ◽

Shan Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Disease Ecology ◽

Parasite Species ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Virulence Evolution ◽

Host Phylogeny ◽

Parasite Biodiversity ◽

Host Parasite ◽

The Impact ◽

Host Extinction

A growing body of research is focused on the extinction of parasite species in response to host endangerment and declines. Beyond the loss of parasite species richness, host extinction can impact apparent parasite host specificity, as measured by host richness or the phylogenetic distances among hosts. Such impacts on the distribution of parasites across the host phylogeny can have knock-on effects that may reshape the adaptation of both hosts and parasites, ultimately shifting the evolutionary landscape underlying the potential for emergence and the evolution of virulence across hosts. Here, we examine how the reshaping of host phylogenies through extinction may impact the host specificity of parasites, and offer examples from historical extinctions, present-day endangerment, and future projections of biodiversity loss. We suggest that an improved understanding of the impact of host extinction on contemporary host–parasite interactions may shed light on core aspects of disease ecology, including comparative studies of host specificity, virulence evolution in multi-host parasite systems, and future trajectories for host and parasite biodiversity. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe’.

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Life cycle and host specificity of Amblyomma triste (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1023/b:appa.0000006514.02451.6d ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 305-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Marcelo B. Labruna ◽

Eric Y.M. Fugisaki ◽

Adriano Pinter ◽

José Maurício B. Duarte ◽

Matias J.P. Szabó

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

Amblyomma Triste

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Host specificity in a diverse Neotropical tick community: an assessment using quantitative network analysis and host phylogeny

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-016-1655-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Helen J. Esser ◽

Edward Allen Herre ◽

Nico Blüthgen ◽

Jose R. Loaiza ◽

Sergio E. Bermúdez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Network Analysis ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Host Phylogeny

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The ghost of hosts past: impacts of host extinction on parasite specificity

10.32942/osf.io/euza8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maxwell Jenner Farrell ◽

Andrew Park ◽

Clay Cressler ◽

Tad Dallas ◽

Shan Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Disease Ecology ◽

Parasite Species ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Virulence Evolution ◽

Host Phylogeny ◽

Parasite Biodiversity ◽

Host Parasite ◽

The Impact ◽

Host Extinction

A growing body of research is focused on the extinction of parasite species in response to host endangerment and declines. Beyond the loss of parasite species richness, host extinction can impact apparent parasite host specificity, as measured by host richness or the phylogenetic distances among hosts. Such impacts on the distribution of parasites across the host phylogeny can have knock-on effects that may reshape the adaptation of both hosts and parasites, ultimately shifting the evolutionary landscape underlying the potential for emergence and the evolution of virulence across hosts. Here we examine how the reshaping of host phylogenies through extinction may impact the host specificity of parasites, and offer examples from historical extinctions, present-day endangerment, and future projections of biodiversity loss. We suggest that an improved understanding of the impact of host extinction on contemporary host-parasite interactions may shed light on core aspects of disease ecology, including comparative studies of host specificity, virulence evolution in multi-host parasite systems, and future trajectories for host and parasite biodiversity.

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Biology, Host Specificity, and Descriptions of the Immature Stages of Lipostemmata major Ashlock and L. humeralis Berg (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Florida Entomologist ◽

10.2307/3493996 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 383 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. M. Baranowski ◽

F. D. Bennett

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Immature Stages

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Distribution, biology and host specificity of Cyrtobagous singularis Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the biological control of Salvinia molesta

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300013821 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 85-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

I. W. Forno ◽

D. P. A. Sands ◽

W. Sexton

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Control Agent ◽

Pistia Stratiotes ◽

Field Observations ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Water Lettuce ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Salvinia Molesta ◽

High Degree

AbstractCyrtobagous singularis Hust. was recorded from Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina in association with six species of Salvinia (aquatic ferns). Field observations and laboratory studies in Brazil and Australia showed that C. singularis severely damaged S. molesta and that the weevil is suitable as a control agent for this weed in tropical and subtropical areas in Australia. In host-specificity studies using 46 plant species that occur in Australia, development of the immature stages took place only on S. molesta. Minor leaf scarring occurred on sweet potato when in contact with water, but starvation tests excluded this plant as a possible terrestrial host. Adults fed, but were unable to reproduce, on water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). The high degree of host specificity indicated that establishment of this weevil in Australia is without risk to non-target plants. C. singularis was first released and became established in Australia in 1980.

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