Griselda Montiel-Parra

Species distribution models and ecological suitability analysis for potential tick vectors of lyme disease in Mexico.

Species distribution models were constructed for ten Ixodes species and Amblyomma cajennense for a region including Mexico and Texas. The model was based on a maximum entropy algorithm that used environmental layers to predict the relative probability of presence for each taxon. For Mexico, species geographic ranges were predicted by restricting the models to cells which have a higher probability than the lowest probability of the cells in which a presence record was located. There was spatial nonconcordance between the distributions of Amblyomma cajennense and the Ixodes group with the former restricted to lowlands and mainly the eastern coast of Mexico and the latter to montane regions with lower temperature. The risk of Lyme disease is, therefore, mainly present in the highlands where some Ixodes species are known vectors; if Amblyomma cajennense turns out to be a competent vector, the area of risk also extends to the lowlands and the east coast.

A SURVEY OF SELECTED PARASITIC AND VIRAL PATHOGENS IN FOUR SPECIES OF MEXICAN PARROTS, AMAZONA AUTUMNALIS, AMAZONA ORATRIX, AMAZONA VIRIDIGENALIS, AND RHYNCHOPSITTA PACHYRHYNCHA

Abstract Isolated populations of four species of Mexican parrots were sampled for evidence of selected pathogens of concern in birds originating in Latin America. Data were collected between June and September 1997, and ectoparasite collection was repeated with Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha in September 2000. Serum samples from nine Amazona oratrix, 10 Amazona viridigenalis, 6 Amazona autumnalis, and 25 R. pachyrhyncha chicks were screened for neutralizing antibodies to psittacid herpesvirus and avian influenza and for antibodies to paramyxovirus serotypes 1 and 3. Chicks were also examined visually for fecal parasites and ectoparasites. All serologic and fecal parasite tests were negative. Ectoparasites included ticks, Ixodidae; mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum; fleas, Psyttopsylla mexicana; lice, Paragoniocotes mexicanus, Heteromenopon sp., and Psittacobrosus sp.; and bugs, Ornithocoris sp. This study provides baseline information to guide future health studies.

The Dermacentor (Acari, Ixodida, Ixodidae) of Mexico: hosts, geographical distribution and new records

Abstract Distribution and host data from published literature and previously unpublished collection records are provided for all nine species of the Holarctic tick genus Dermacentor that are known to occur in Mexico, as well as two species that may occur there. Parasite-host and host-parasite lists are presented, together with a gazetteer of collection localities and their geographical coordinates.

Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) associated with vertebrates in Mexico

The chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) of Mexico have been little studied and many publications include isolated records. This paper summarizes current knowledge of chewing lice recorded from Mexico resulting from an exhaustive search of the literature published from 1866 to 2017. We found 342 louse species associated with 206 bird and 28 mammal species. As a result, we provide a checklist of the chewing lice recorded from Mexico, including a host-parasite list and their geographical distribution within the country.

Redescription of Ornithodoros dyeri (Ixodida: Argasidae) based on morphologic and molecular data

Larvae, nymphs and adults of the cave dwelling tick Ornithodoros dyeri, collected in 3 Mexican states, were studied using morphological and molecular methods. The adults and nymphs were characterized by an elongated body in proportion to the width and a dorsum bounded by two contiguous ridges and one third ridge (inner) that was incomplete on each side. The larvae of this species have 14 pairs of dorsal setae, a venter body with nine pairs of setae plus a posteromedian; a moderately large, dorsal plate and piriform, a hypostome arising from a relatively short, subtriangular median extension of the basis capituli, and a capsule of Halleŕs organ with reticulations. Based on a maximum likelihood analysis of the sequences of a fragment of approximately 414bp of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, we showed that O. dyeri represents an independent lineage within neotropical species of the Argasidae. The bat species Mimon cozumelae and Peropteryx macrotis represents a new host record for this argasid.