ANÁLISE DE DADOS COLETADOS REFERENTES AO COMPORTAMENTO DE BUSCA POR HOSPEDEIRO DE CARRAPATOS RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS

INTRODUCTION: For nearly 200 years the Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown dog tick) was regarded as a single taxon, however, recent studies have demonstrated the existence of two genetics lineages within this taxon, called tropical and temperate lineage, referring to the different climatic conditions and geographical prevalence each of them AIMS: Thus, this study aimed to assess differences in the host-seeking behavior strategies between these two recently distinguished genetic lineages of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus, shedding light on their behavioral adaptations to different environmental conditions and its potential implications for disease vectoring MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tropical and temperate lineages were identified based genomic analysis and on their geographic distribution. Trough an arena tests, set up with a dry ice bait, to simulate the CO2 emissions of the breathing of a potential host. RESULTS: The tropical lineage was observed to be 2.8 (95% CI = 1.2-6.6; p<0.05) times more likely to demonstrate active host-seeking behavior than the temperate lineage of the same species. Experiments throughout this study revealed significant differences in host-seeking behavior, with the tropical lineage showing higher rates of active host-seeking and shorter response times to host-like stimuli. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: These findings align with previous research and suggest that the tropical lineage may have a greater capacity for vectoring pathogens, including Ehrlichia canis. Understanding the host-seeking behavior of these tick lineages can be crucial for comprehending their distribution patterns and competence as a vector of diseases. The greater host-seeking activity of the tropical lineage may increase the risk of pathogen transmission to animals and humans, highlighting the significance of implementing effective tick control measures and monitoring tick populations in regions where the tropical lineage is prevalent.

KEYWORDS: Questing behavior; Brown-dog-Tick; Tropical tick