WILD ANIMALS TICKS IN THE CERRADO BIOME SCREENED BY THE CETAS, IBAMA-GOIÁS

Abstract Cerrado biome has around 320,000 species of animals and it occupies approximately 25% of the Brazilian territory. This great number of species stimulates the illegal trafficking of wild animals. The Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA) is responsible for rescuing trafficked animals and forwards them to the Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS), where they are screened, identified, and subjected to diagnostic tests and quarantine before being sent to a final destination. Ectoparasites identification is one of the recommended procedures. During 2013, the tick species were identified in wild animals kept in CETAS: Amblyomma longirostre in porcupine (Coendou prehensilis); Amblyomma rotundatum in common boa (Boa constrictor); Amblyomma sculptum and Riphicephalus microplus in Red brocket deer (Mazama americana); Amblyomma sculptum in maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus); Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum in capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris); Amblyomma nodosum in collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla); Amblyomma sculptum in brown howler (Alouatta guariba). Amblyomma was the main genre found dispersed among wild animals of South America. Captivity animals showed low number of ticks.