Leigh-Anne Simmons

INTRODUCTION OF POTENTIAL HEARTWATER VECTORS AND OTHER EXOTIC TICKS INTO FLORIDA ON IMPORTED REPTILES

Following the discovery of establishment of the African tortoise tick Amblyomma marmoreum in Florida, the present study was undertaken to determine the extent of introduction of exotic ticks into Florida on imported reptiles. Exotic ticks were identified on 29 (91%) of 32 reptile premises in 18 counties of Florida. The ticks, found on a variety of imported tortoises, snakes, and monitor lizards, belonged to 4 Amblyomma species (A. marmoreum, Amblyomma nuttalli, Amblyomma sabanerae, and Amblyomma sparsum) and 4 Aponomma species (Aponomma exornatum, Aponomma flavomaculatum, Aponomma latum, and Aponomma varanensis). The most commonly encountered ticks were A. latum and A. marmoreum. The identifications of A. marmoreum on 8 premises in 7 counties, and of A. sparsum on 1 premises, are of great concern because both species are vectors of heartwater, a lethal disease of cattle, sheep, goats, and deer.

Introduction of the exotic ticks Amblyomma humerale koch and Amblyomma geoemydae (Cantor) (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on imported reptiles

Abstract This is the first report of the reptilian ticks Amblyomma humerale Koch and A. geoemydae (Cantor) in the United States. Both were introduced into Florida on imported reptiles, A. humerale on a yellow-footed tortoise (Geochelone denticulata) from Guyana in South America and A. geoemydae on keeled box turtles (Pyxidea mouhotii) and black-breasted leaf turtles (Geoemyda spengleri) from Asia. Information on the host range, geographical distribution and life cycle of each tick is reviewed.

Introduction of the Exotic Tick Amblyomma hebraeum into Florida on a Human Host

A resident of Florida returned from a short visit to southern Africa to find a male Amblyomma hebraeum tick attached to the skin behind her knee. Amblyomma hebraeum is a major vector of 2 pathogens that cause important diseases in southern Africa, heartwater of ruminants and African tick-bite fever of humans. The tick was tested by polymerase chain reaction assay for evidence of infection with Cowdria ruminantium and Rickettsia africae (the causative agents of heartwater and African tick-bite fever, respectively) and was found to be negative for both agents. This is the second record of the exotic tick, A. hebraeum, being introduced into the United States on a human host.

CONTROL OF AN EXOTIC TICK (APONOMMA KOMODOENSE) INFESTATION IN A KOMODO DRAGON (VARANUS KOMODOENSIS) EXHIBIT AT A ZOO IN FLORIDA

Abstract A protocol was developed to control an exotic tick (Aponomma komodoense) infestation on three Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) at a Florida zoo without direct application of acaricides to the lizards. With the Komodo dragons secured within their indoor pens, their outdoor enclosures and the exhibition area were sprayed with a formulation of permethrin prepared specifically for use with reptiles. Once the acaricide had dried, the Komodo dragons were allowed to return to their outdoor enclosures, whereupon the indoor pens were closed and sprayed with the same formulation. After this initial treatment, the outdoor and indoor areas were retreated every 2 wk and 8–10 wk, respectively, for 6 mo. The initial on-host and off-host tick count of 301 ticks fell to 0 ticks after 6 mo. No adverse effects of the acaricide treatment were observed on the lizards during daily monitoring.

Clinical Study of a Permethrin Formulation for Direct or Indirect Use in Control of Ticks on Tortoises, Snakes and Lizards

ABSTRACT The clinical effects of application of a permethrin acaricidal formulation, Provent-a-mite™, were studied on three species of reptiles by direct application to African spurred tortoises, Geochelone sulcata, and by application to the bedding of rosy boas, Lichanura trivirgata, and green iguanas, Iguana iguana, using on each occasion ten times the recommended dosage every fifth day for a total of six applications. No evidence of toxic reactions related to treatment with the permethrin formulation was found in any of the three species of reptiles treated, suggesting that Provent-a-mite™ is a safe product to use as an acaricide for control of ticks on other species of tortoises, snakes and lizards.

INTRODUCTION OF THE EXOTIC TICK AMBLYOMMA CHABAUDI RAGEAU (ACARI: IXODIDAE) INTO FLORIDA ON IMPORTED TORTOISES

International trade in live reptiles has been ongoing for many years, with the pet trade component of this enterprise a significant end-user of live tortoises, turtles, lizards and snakes (Roth & Merz 1997). In the United States, the pet trade is responsible for more than 80% of the total world trade in reptiles (Hoover 1998). Many of these reptiles enter the United States through Florida. Studies conducted by the University of Florida between 1997 and 1999 showed that 10 exotic tick species have been imported into Florida on reptiles (Burridge et al. 2000, Simmons & Burridge 2000), including six species of Amblyomma and four species of Aponomma . Some of these tick species can transmit disease agents of animal or public health significance (Burridge 2001) and, thus, research is underway in the authors’ laboratory to define measures to minimize the introduction and spread of exotic ticks. Recently, we detected yet another exotic tick species, Amblyomma chabaudi Rageau, that has been introduced into Florida on imported tortoises. Details of this introduction are described herein. In collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the authors initiated studies of reptiles recently imported into Florida through the Miami International Airport. One such shipment involved 125 spider tortoises ( Pyxis arachnoides ) imported from Madagascar to a reptile dealer in South Florida. Nineteen of the tortoises were infested with 23 adult ticks, 21 and 2 of which were attached to the rear and front legs, respectively. All ticks were identified as male Amblyomma chabaudi Rageau. Sample specimens were submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for species confirmation, with accession No. 95109. This is the first report of A. chabaudi in the United States and the first report of this tick outside of Madagascar. Amblyomma chabaudi was first described in 1963 infesting a spider tortoise in Madagascar (Rageau 1964). Since that time, three publications regarding this species (Uilenberg 1965, 1967, Uilenberg et al. 1979) have shown A. chabaudi distributed only in southern Madagascar and have indicated a limited host range. All published records of A. chabaudi are from spider tortoises, except for one male on a radiated tortoise ( Geochelone radiata ) (Uilenberg et al. 1979), with both tortoise species limited in natural distribution to Madagascar (Alderton 1988). However, Uilenberg (1967) was able to feed A. chabaudi in the laboratory on radiated tortoises, Madagascar flat-shelled tortoises ( Pyxis planicauda ) and rabbits. Thus, in the absence of its preferred host, the spider tortoise, A. chabaudi could infest other host species. Nothing is known of the potential of A. chabaudi to transmit diseases or regarding its potential environmental impact in Florida. The work described in this report was supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture Tropical/Subtropical Agricultural Research grant no. 00-34135-9814. The authors are grateful to James Mertins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation of the identity of these exotic ticks found in Florida and to Lieutenant Patrick Reynolds of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for assistance with access to the premises of the reptile importer.

Introduction of the exotic tick Amblyomma helvolum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on imported cobras (Squamata: Elapidae)

Abstract This is a report of the introduction of the exotic tick Amblyomma helvolum Koch into the United States on imported king cobras (Ophiophagus hannah). Information on the host range, geographical distribution and biology of A. helvolum is reviewed.