TICKS PARASITIZING ANURANS IN BRAZIL. REVIEW

Abstract

In the toads there have been recorded several endo and ectoparasites: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths and arthropods. However, despite the hundreds of species of ticks described, only six were recorded from toads of the genus Rhinell. in Brazil, Amblyomma dissimile and Amblyomma rotundatum are the most common. Both species have three stages in their life cycle larva, nymph and adult), all of which are active and depend on a blood meal to perform its biological functions. There are several groups of ectoparasites in amphibians acting as vectors of infectious agents: Batracobdella picta transmitting trypanosomes to R. clamitans, R. catesbeiana and R. setentrionales, Hyla crucifer, R. americanus, R. sylvatica and Plethodon cinereus. Mosquitoes of the genus Phlebotomus transmiting trypanosomes to frogs in china, A. rotudatum transmitting Hemolivia and Hepatozon and A. dissimile vectoring Hepatozoon fusifex.. Besides the protozoa, there are also reports of infection by Rickettsia belli in both A. rotundatum and A. humerale. Ticks can also cause lesions in toads during the blood meal resulting in the development of ulcerative lesions and bleeding.