Language
English
Publication Date
1-13-2025
Journal
Journal of Medical Entomology
DOI
10.1093/jme/tjae136
PMID
39495038
PMCID
PMC12476984
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-4-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Soft ticks (Argasidae) of the subgenus Pavlovskyella Pospelova-Shtrom are worldwide distributed parasites of medical importance. However, the systematics of the subgenus are currently under debate because genetic data shows that the group is paraphyletic. Meanwhile, species of Pavlovskyella continue to be discovered. In this study a novel species of the subgenus is described from specimens collected on a fox in central Chile. The larva of this new species differentiates from other Pavlovskyella spp. by having the following combination of characters: subpyriform dorsal plate; 15 pairs of setae, 7 anterolateral, 3 central, and 5 posterolateral, and hypostome with denticles in the distal third. Nymphs and adults of the species lack cheeks, eyes or bulging structures on the flank, but exhibit dorsoventral grooves, and humps on tarsi I, II, and III. Moreover, a patch of glabrous integument appears on the distal portion of coxal folds. A phylogenetic analysis using the mitogenome indicates a monophyletic group composed by Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) brasiliensis Aragão, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) furcosus Neumann, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) improvisus Muñoz-Leal & Venzal, and Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) rostratus Aragão. Interestingly, a phylogeny using 18S-28S rDNA sequences shows that South American Pavlovskyella spp. are paraphyletic, as depicted in previous studies. Adding species of the subgenus from the Neotropical region to phylogenetic analyses could aid to solve this paraphyly. Furthermore, this is the fifth species of Pavlovskyella described in South America, and the second in Chile.
Keywords
Animals, Chile, Foxes, Phylogeny, Nymph, Argasidae, Female, Male, Larva, Argasidae, soft tick, mitogenome, phylogeny, new species
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Muñoz-Leal, Sebastián; Kneubehl, Alexander R; Ardiles, Karen; et al., "Identification and Characterization of a Novel Pavlovskyella (Acari: Argasidae) From Chile, Parasite of the Culpeo Fox (Lycalopex culpaeus)" (2025). Faculty and Staff Publications. 5873.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/5873