Avaliação de ectoparasitas (Acari: Ixodida) em serpentes de cativeiro e vida livre no Museu da Amazônia (MUSA) Manaus

Abstract

Snakes, belonging to the order Squamata, constitute a widely distributed group of reptiles that perform essential ecological roles as predators and prey at different trophic levels. Given their ecological importance, studies on their ectoparasites are needed to understand the biology and interactions of these animals, particularly ticks of the family Ixodidae—blood-feeding arthropods that parasitize a wide range of hosts, including reptiles, and can cause various pathological and behavioral changes. This study characterized the ixodological fauna associated with snakes present at the Amazon Museum (MUSA), encompassing captive-held individuals and wild specimens located in the MUSA area, which is part of the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, an Area of Relevant Ecological Interest (ARIE). The study evaluated host species, the prevalence of infestation, the parasitic stages present, and the potential pathophysiological impacts resulting from the parasitic infection. A total of 300 ectoparasites were found on 11 snake species, with the tick species Amblyomma dissimile being the most prevalent; it was found parasitizing snakes at all life stages —larvae, nymphs, and adults—and acariforms were also found on a free-living snake. Tick infestation can lead to serious diseases such as dermatitis, lethargy, muscle weakness, apathy, stereotypies, and, in severe cases, death. The semiological analysis of the hosts contributes to the understanding of parasite-host interactions in the Amazonian context, reinforcing the importance of health monitoring of these animals as a strategy for the conservation of regional herpetofauna and biodiversity as a whole. Keywords: Ticks, Snakes, Parasitism, Amazon.