Effects of ticks on community assemblages of ectoparasites in deer mice

Ectoparasites are fundamental to ecosystems, playing a key role in trophic regulation. Fleas, mites, and ticks are common hematophagous ectoparasites that infest shared mammalian hosts. One common host in Ontario, Canada, is the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). As the climate warms and the geographic ranges of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) expand, their introduction to new ecosystems may alter current ectoparasite communities. At three different sites where exposure to ticks varied (both in terms of tick diversity and abundance), ectoparasite community structures found on deer mouse hosts were examined, focusing on species co-occurrences and habitat partitioning on the host. We predicted that when tick species were prevalent, ticks would dominate the micro-habitat attachment sites often inhabited by other parasites, thereby significantly altering parasite community structure. Our results suggest that blacklegged ticks and American dog ticks could have a positive association with each other, but a negative or random association with other ectoparasite species, even when they do not occupy the same attachment site. Sampling site played a significant role in community assemblages as well, possibly due to the differences in tick exposure. As the ticks’ ranges expand and they become more abundant, it is important to understand how their prevalence can potentially alter the dynamics in an ectoparasite community, affecting the transmission of pathogens that may spread within an ecosystem, from one host to another.     

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae,Argasidae) associated with wild birds in Argentina

The aim of this study was to report tick infestations on wild birds from four Phytogeographic Provinces of Argentina. A total of 1085 birds was captured (124 species, 97 genera, 29 families and 13 orders), and ticks were collected from 265 birds (48 species, 40 genera and five orders). A total of 1469 ticks (1102 larvae, 363 nymphs and 4 females) belonging to 15 tick species (Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma triste, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes auritulus sensu lato, Ixodes pararicinus, Ixodes silvanus, Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis and Ornithodoros sp. cf. O. mimon). Eighty-one new associations between bird species and stages of tick species are detected. The families Thamnophilidae, Turdidae, Thraupidae, Passerellidae, Furnariidae and Troglodytidae were the most prevalent. According to the Phytogeographic Provinces involved in this study, the prevalence of infection for each of them in birds was: (1) Chaco: 28.2% (11 tick species); (2) Yungas: 22.0% (8 tick species); (3) Espinal: 11.1% (2 tick species); and (4) Pampa: 3.9% (1 tick species). This study provided information on the diversity of tick species that parasitize wild birds, the variability of the specific tick-bird associations between the different Phytogeographic Provinces and the relevance of some families of birds as hosts of different tick species.     

Rocky mountain spotted fever in Connecticut: human cases, spotted-fever group rickettsiae in ticks, and antibodies in mammals.

Three parameters were used in 1976 and 1977 to assess the status of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Connecticut--compilation and review of clinical data on suspected human cases for the 13-year period 1965--1977, examination of tick tissues for spotted fever-group rickettsiae by the hemolymph test and direct immunofluorescence, and analyses of mammalian sera for antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii. There were six presumptive RMSF cases which probably originated in Connecticut. Four of these cases occurred in areas where the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, abounds. A total of 2994 ticks were examined by the hemolymph test. Rickettsia-like organisms were observed in 67 (2.9%) of 2330 D. variabilis and two (0.6%) of 351 Ixodes sp. near scapularis. Fewer than one-half of these organisms stained positively with spotted fever-group conjugate. Microagglutination tests on 1093 mammalian sera indicated that eight (16%) of 49 raccoons, 14 (2.6%) of 549 white-tailed deer, eight (1.7%) of 470 white-footed mice, and one of two gray squirrels had agglutinins in titers greater than or equal to 1:8 against R. rickettsii. Spotted fever-group rickettsiae are present at low frequency in inland as well as coastal regions of Connecticut.     

Tick species infesting humans in the United States

The data for human tick encounters in the United States (US) presented in this paper were compiled with the goals of: (i) presenting quantitative data across the full range of native or recently established human biting ixodid (hard) and argasid (soft) tick species with regards to their frequency of infesting humans, based on published records of ticks collected while biting humans or crawling on clothing or skin; and (ii) providing a guide to publications on human tick encounters. Summary data are presented in table format, and the detailed data these summaries were based on are included in a set of Supplementary Tables. To date, totals of 36 ixodid species (234,722 specimens) and 13 argasid species (230 specimens) have been recorded in the published literature to infest humans in the US. Nationally, the top five ixodid species recorded from humans were the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (n=158,008 specimens); the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (n=36,004); the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (n=26,624); the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus (n=4,158); and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni (n=3,518). Additional species with more than 250 ticks recorded from humans included Ixodes cookei (n=2,494); the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis (n=809); the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (n=714); the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (n=465); and the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum (n=335). The spinose ear tick, Otobius megnini (n=69), and the pajaroello tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus (n=55) were the argasid species most commonly recorded from humans. Additional information presented for each of the 49 tick species include a breakdown of life stages recorded from humans, broad geographical distribution in the US, host preference, and associated human pathogens or medical conditions. The paper also provides a history of publications on human tick encounters in the US, with tables outlining publications containing quantitative data on human tick encounters as well as other notable publications on human-tick interactions. Data limitations are discussed. Researchers and public health professionals in possession of unpublished human tick encounter data are strongly encouraged to publish this information in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In future papers, it would be beneficial if data consistently were broken down by tick species and life stage as well as host species and ticks found biting versus crawling on clothing or skin.     

Diversity of tick species biting humans in an emerging area for Lyme disease.

BACKGROUND. Although most tick bites in humans in areas of the northeastern United States in which Lyme disease is highly endemic are due to Ixodes dammini, no study documents the frequency of I. dammini bites in low-prevalence or emerging areas for Lyme disease. Data on the proportion of tick bites in humans that are due to I. dammini in a region may have implications for public health policy and clinical management. METHODS. A statewide survey of the tick species that parasitized humans in Maine was conducted during 1989 and 1990. Tick submissions from throughout the state were elicited through media announcements. All ticks that had been removed from humans were identified, and data were collected that included bite seasonality and geography and demographics of tick bite victims. RESULTS. Of 709 ticks submitted, only 17% were I. dammini. Ixodes cookei, a vector for Powassan encephalitis, accounted for 34% of bites, and Dermacentor variabilis accounted for 45%. Other tick species were occasionally implicated. CONCLUSIONS. The likelihood that a tick bite was due to I. dammini was lower in Maine than in areas in the northeastern United States in which Lyme disease is highly endemic. Other tick vectors, associated with diseases other than Lyme disease, were more frequently implicated. Regional tick bite surveys may prove useful in assessing the risk of Lyme disease following a tick bite.     

Distribution of ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ticks are one of the important groups of parasites, whose populations have increased in Europe in the last 20 years and, as vectors of many emerging diseases, are a major threat to human and animal health. Bosnia and Herzegovina has both climate and environmental conditions favorable for ticks. Given this risk, the aim of this study was to identify tick species currently present in this country and to compare the findings with previous studies, in order to update information on their spatial distribution and other parameters of occurrence.From March 2017 to April 2020, ticks were collected in 42 sampling areas (municipalities) throughout the country. Prespecified identification keys were used for identifying the ticks to the species level.A total of 6193 tick specimens from the Ixodidae family were collected from animal hosts or from vegetation. Ixodes ricinus was the most dominant tick species found. However, our results indicate a decrease in the relative contribution of this tick species to the overall abundance of tick populations. Dermacentor marginatus, which almost doubled in abundance compared to earlier studies, is the second most common tick species. We further confirmed the presence of Dermacentor reticulatus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Hyalomma marginatum and Haemaphysalis punctata. Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes canisuga and Haemaphysalis concinna, which were previously reported at low abundance were not found amongst our specimens.     

DNA条形码技术用于进口货物中肩突硬蜱的鉴定简

目的利用DNA条形码技术对入境货物中截获未知种类的蜱进行种属鉴定。方法抽取蜱DNA,用特异性扩增线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶第Ⅰ亚基（COⅠ）基因片段,并测序。利用NCBI进行BLAST比对。结果蜱样本COⅠ基因序列与肩突硬蜱（Ixodes scapularisSay,1821）COⅠ基因匹配度达100%。形态学上,该蜱符合肩突硬蜱的形态学特征。该蜱种在我国尚无检出报道。结论该蜱为肩突硬蜱。这是国内首次报道从进口货物中截获肩突硬蜱。     

Ticks parasitizing humans in a Lyme disease endemic area of southern New York State

A total of 126 tick specimens were submitted by tick bite victims to the Westchester County Department of Health, White Plains, New York, and to the New York Medical College, Medical Entomology Laboratory, Armonk, New York, during 1985. These included 96 (76.2%) Ixodes dammini, 26 (20.6%) Dermacentor variabilis, and two (1.6%) Amblyomma americanum. I. dammini parasitism was reported during all months of the year except December and February and involved all life stages. Only D. variabilis adults parasitized humans, with all cases occurring in the spring and summer. The mean age of I. dammini victims was 24.5 years, with 39.0% under age 10 years. This age group also accounted for 52.0% of all D. variabilis victims (mean age, 16.8 years). The majority of I. dammini and D. variabilis were though to be acquired in the victims' yards (68.6 and 64.7%, respectively). Attachment sites for these species were significantly different, with I. dammini nymphs found most frequently on the lower extremities and I. dammini adults and D. variabilis adults found primarily on the head. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment was prescribed by a physician for 40.8% of I. dammini victims, compared with 4.5% of the D. variabilis victims. Lyme disease was reported by two patients during the course of the study. Neither had received prophylactic therapy at the time of the reported tick bite.     

绥芬河口岸蜱类调查报告

目的 调查绥芬河口岸蜱种组成及生态习性.方法 采用人工小时布旗法采集蜱类.结果 2012年共捕获蜱类779只,1科3属4种.优势种群是全沟硬蜱,其次是嗜群血蜱、日本血蜱、森林革蜱.4-8月份均有蜱类活动,5、6月份为蜱类活动高峰,其蜱密度分别为63.3只/人工小时.旗、41.5只/人工小时.旗.结论 本次调查掌握了绥芬河口岸蜱类种群及季节消长情况,为绥芬河口岸蜱类的防控工作提供了依据.     

Tick abundance and diversity are substantially lower in thinned vs. unthinned forests in the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve,USA

Forest thinning is a management tool used in the New Jersey Pinelands and elsewhere to improve forest health and resilience, mitigate wildfire risk, and manage for wildlife. Forest thinning leads to warmer drier microclimates, which have been shown in both field and laboratory studies to reduce tick survival and reproduction. To directly assess the effects of forest thinning on the abundance and diversity of ticks and on the prevalence of tick-borne human pathogens, we sampled ticks weekly from March to November 2021 at three replicated pairs of thinned and unthinned forest sites composed primarily of pitch-pine, shortleaf pine, and various oak species. We characterized microclimate in the understory and forest floor at each sampling plot by deploying multiple data loggers to monitor temperature and relative humidity throughout the study period. As expected, we found that thinned plots were significantly drier and warmer than unthinned plots. We also found that average questing tick abundance was 92% lower in thinned as compared with unthinned plots. Of the three main tick species collected in unthinned plots (Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, and Dermacentor albipictus) only A. americanum and a single I. scapularis were collected in thinned plots. Prevalence of Ehrlichia species in A. americanum did not differ between treatments, and the sole I. scapularis collected in a thinned plot was infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. However, the significant and much lower tick abundance in thinned plots indicates a lower risk of human-tick encounters. Our results add to the growing evidence that landscape and forest management can reduce local tick abundance, thereby reducing tick-borne disease risk.     

Ecology of tick vectors of American spotted fever

The author reviews the natural history of the tick vectors of American spotted fever. The discussion concerns the ecology of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and the lone-star tick, Amblyomma americanum, all of which are proven vectors of Rocky Mountain spotted fever to man. Also included are the rabbit tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris and Dermacentor parumapertus, which very rarely bite man but which are considered of importance in maintaining and distributing Rickettsia rickettsi, the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, in nature. Brief reference is also made to recently developed techniques for studying the ecology of tick vectors.     

Free-living ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Iguaçu National Park,Brazil: Temporal dynamics and questing behavior on vegetation

Basic knowledge of species, ecological preferences and behavior of ticks in preserved rainforests are scanty. We herein describe species richness, seasonal activity, altitude influence and questing height of ticks along 3375 m of animal trails within the largest remain of inland Atlantic rainforest in Brazil, the Iguaçu National Park (INP). Altogether, 2954 ticks from nine tick species were collected; Amblyomma brasiliense Aragão (49.09% of the specimens), Amblyomma coelebs Neumann (29.08%), Amblyomma incisum Neumann (12.49%), Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley (5.21%), Amblyomma ovale Koch (2.64%), Amblyomma longirostre Koch (0.20%), Ixodes fuscipes Fonseca (0.17%), Ixodes loricatus Neumann (0.07%) and Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann (0.03%) (Ixodida: Ixodidae). There was an evident seasonal influence on tick host-questing activity, with each tick stage prevailing in a season before the following one, and a general trend of one tick generation per year. Adult tick questing height mode on vegetation showed a correspondence between tick species and preferred host size and height. Adult ticks quested higher than immatures, but several larval clusters were found high enough to seek for large-sized hosts as well. Nymphal and adult tick questing height increased significantly at higher altitudes within the park. Amblyomma incisum and A. coelebs were more abundant at higher and lower altitudes, respectively. The knowledge on tick species richness, ecological preferences and behavior herein obtained provides baseline information to understand tick-borne disease epidemiology occurring at landscapes under a strong anthropogenic impact.     

Presence of diverse Rickettsia spp. and absence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks in an East Texas forest with reduced tick density associated with controlled burns

As tick-borne diseases continue to emerge across the United States, there is need for a better understanding of the tick and pathogen communities in the southern states and of habitat features that influence transmission risk. We surveyed questing and on-host ticks in pine-dominated forests with various fire management regimes in the Sam Houston National Forest, a popular recreation area near Houston, Texas. Four linear transects were established- two with a history of controlled burns, and two unburned. Systematic drag sampling yielded 112 ticks from two species, Ixodes scapularis (n=73) and Amblyomma americanum (n=39), with an additional 106 questing ticks collected opportunistically from drag cloth operators. There was a significant difference in systematically-collected questing tick density between unburned (15 and 18 ticks/1000 m²) and burned (2 and 4 ticks/1000 m²) transects. We captured 106 rodents and found 74 ticks on the rodents, predominantly Dermacentor variabilis. One unburned transect had significantly more ticks per mammal than any of the other three transects. DNA of Rickettsia species was detected in 146/292 on and off-host ticks, including the ‘Rickettsial endosymbiont of I. scapularis’ and Rickettsia amblyommatis, which are of uncertain pathogenicity to humans. Borrelia lonestari was detected in one A. americanum, while Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the agent of Lyme disease, was not detected in any tick samples. Neither Borrelia nor Rickettsia spp. were detected in any of the mammal ear biopsies (n=64) or blood samples (n=100) tested via PCR. This study documents a high prevalence in ticks of Rickettsia spp. thought to be endosymbionts, a low prevalence of relapsing fever group Borrelia in ticks, and a lack of detection of Lyme disease-group Borrelia in both ticks and mammals in an east Texas forested recreation area. Additionally, we observed low questing tick density in areas with a history of controlled burns. These results expand knowledge of tick-borne disease ecology in east Texas which can aid in directing future investigative, modeling, and management efforts.     

Tick (Acari: Ixodoidea) fauna and zoogeographic division of Jiangxi Province,China

Tick fauna and zoogeographic distribution of Jiangxi Province remain largely unknown due to the lack of data on distribution, occurrence, and host associations of ticks. Considering this, we collected 1,817 individual samples from natural hosts, humans, and vegetation in 18 counties/districts throughout Jiangxi Province, China, from 2015 to 2021. These 1,817 individuals were found to 13 tick species, 4 genera, and 1 family. In addition, the tick sample data from 8 sampling localities (counties and districts) reported in previous studies were also included in our data. A total of 4,021 individuals, including our sample collection and the previously reported data, were assigned to at least 18 species, 6 genera, and 2 families. One newly recorded species Dermacentor sp. (near D. steini Schulze) was found; three misidentified species (Ixodes acuminatus, Haemaphysalis spinigera, and Haemaphysalis verticalis) reported previously were deleted; and one misidentified species Dermacentor auratus Supino was revised as Dermacentor steini Schulze. In addition, we divided the tick fauna in Jiangxi Province into 5 zoogeographic areas and assigned the 18 tick species collected from 26 localities to these 5 zoogeographic areas. To summarize, our findings provide valuable information on the distribution, tick-host associations, and zoogeographic division of ticks in Jiangxi Province, China. Their molecular characterizations, phylogenetic relationships, and tick-borne pathogens that they may transmit should be further explored.     

我国莱姆病螺旋体生物媒介的初步调查

自1987年以来,我们在全国开展了莱姆病调查,从黑龙江、吉林、辽宁、内蒙、河北、新疆、湖北、四川、福建和北京等省、市采集的全沟硬蜱、粒形硬蜱、壤塘硬蜱、嗜群血蜱、二棘血蜱和长角血蜱分离出71株莱姆病螺旋体,其中55株从全沟硬蜱分离。全沟硬蜱是东北和西北针阔叶林区的优势蜱种,其带菌率为20~45%,表明全沟硬蜱是我国北方莱姆病螺旋体的主要生物媒介。虽然从我国南方的某些硬蜱属和血蜱属种类分离到莱姆病螺旋体,但是南方的主要生物媒介还不清楚。从我国蜱体内分离的螺旋体在超微结构、单克隆抗体反应和外表蛋白等方面与美国菌株有某些区别。     

On the way between Africa and Europe: Molecular taxonomy of ticks collected from birds in Malta

The Maltese Archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin, between Europe and Africa, therefore representing an important stopover site for migratory birds between these two continents. Despite this, up-to-date information is not available on tick species associated with birds in Malta. Therefore, in this study, birds mist-netted for ringing by BirdLife Malta were examined for the presence of ticks between September, 2019 and May, 2021. Ticks were identified morphologically and molecularly, using three genetic markers.During the study period, 57 individuals of 22 bird species were found tick-infested, from which altogether 113 ixodid ticks were collected. The majority of developmental stages were nymphs, but 13 larvae and one female were also found. These ticks belonged to nine species: Ixodes cumulatimpunctatus (n=1), Ixodes ricinus (n=2), Ixodes acuminatus (n=2), Ixodes frontalis (n=5), Ixodes festai (n=1), one species of the Amblyomma marmoreum complex (n=8), Hyalomma rufipes (n=78), Hyalomma marginatum (n=7) and Hyalomma lusitanicum (n=1). Eight Hyalomma sp. ticks could only be identified on the genus level. Regarding seasonality, all Palearctic Ixodes species were carried by birds exclusively in the autumn (i.e., north to south), whereas H. rufipes (with predominantly Afrotropical distribution) was exclusively collected in the spring (i.e., carried south to north). Two tick species that occurred on birds in Malta, i.e., a species of the A. marmoreum complex and I. cumulatimpunctatus are only indigenous in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region. This is the first finding of the latter tick species in Europe, and four tick species were identified for the first time in Malta.In conclusion, the diversity of tick species regularly arriving in Europe from Africa is most likely higher than reflected by data obtained in Mediterranean countries of mainland Europe. Most notably, ticks of the genus Amblyomma appear to be underrepresented in previous datasets. Ticks of the subgenus Afrixodes (represented by I. cumulatimpunctatus) might also be imported into Europe by migratory birds.     

Morphological anomalies in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil

Tick abnormalities have been unusual in nature, and they can be divided into local and general. In the present study, external morphological anomalies were described in 31 individual adult ticks of 15 different species of Ixodidae, which were collected on wild hosts (20 ticks), domestic hosts (7 ticks), and in the environment (4 ticks) in 11 states of Brazil from 1998 to 2022. Among the 31 tick specimens, 14 (45%) were categorized as local anomalies, and 17 (55%) as general anomalies. The ticks were taxonomically identified into 14 species of Amblyomma, and one species of Rhipicephalus. Local anomalies included malformations of scutum/alloscutum, ectromely, leg atrophy, and a third ectopic spiracular plate. General anomalies included opisthosoma duplication, no expansion of dorsal alloscutum in engorged females, and gynandromorphism; the latter is described for 13 tick specimens. Morphological anomalies in Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma humerale and Amblyomma longirostre are reported for the first time. Although the results herein expand the list of anomalous tick species in the Neotropics, future studies should be conducted to clarify the origin of these anomalies.     

黑龙江省东部边境口岸莱姆病生物媒介调查及病原分型研究

目的调查黑龙江省东部中俄边境口岸蜱的种类、分布、携带莱姆病螺旋体情况及病原基因型。方法捕蜱采用布旗法;蜱带莱姆病螺旋体率采用直接荧光法检查;病原体分离培养采用BSKⅡ培养基,对分离到的螺旋体用单克隆抗体(H_(5332)、H_(6831)、H_(9724))、SDS-PAGE蛋白图谱分析、PCR-RFLP分析以及基因测序等方法进行表型和基因分型研究。结果黑龙江省东部7个中俄边境口岸蜱的种类为1科3属4种,即硬蜱科硬蜱属全沟硬蜱,革蜱属森林革蜱,血蜱属嗜群血蜱和日本血蜱。不同生态环境中蜱的分布不同,各口岸优势蜱种不同。全沟硬蜱带莱姆病螺旋体率较高,平均为31.4%,森林革蜱和嗜群血蜱的带菌率较低,平均为2.2%和3.8%,日本血蜱中未检出阳性者。首次在中俄边境口岸——东宁、同江采集的全沟硬蜱中分离到伯氏疏螺旋体并鉴定为B.garinii基因型。结论黑龙江省东部边境口岸为莱姆病的自然疫源地。     

Identification of residual blood proteins in ticks by mass spectrometry proteomics

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics of individual ticks demonstrated persistence of mammalian host blood components, including alpha- and beta-globin chains, histones, and mitochondrial enzymes, in Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum ticks for months after molting. Residual host proteins may identify sources of infection for ticks.     

Ticks on humans in an Atlantic rainforest preserved ecosystem in Brazil: Species,life stages,attachment sites,and temporal pattern of infestation

We herein describe exposure and tick attachment to researchers and field staff within the greatest preserved inland Atlantic rainforest, located in Brazil, over a non-consecutive period of five years. Overall, 433 ticks from five species were collected, Amblyomma coelebs (n = 281), Amblyomma brasiliense (n = 79), Amblyomma incisum (n = 43), Amblyomma ovale (n = 4), Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (n = 4). Clusters of larvae belonged to the genus Amblyomma (n = 21) and Haemaphysalis (n = 1). Both Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma species were observed crawling on humans but only ticks from the latter genus were found attached. Most recovered ticks (59%) were found attached and, whereas A. brasiliense was the main host-seeking tick species in the forest, A. coelebs nymphs were the ones that overwhelmingly attached to humans (70% of all attachments). At the same time only 0.4% of human bites were of A. ovale, the Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest vector tick in Brazil. Tick attachment sites were recorded for 132 ticks and lower/upper limbs and the trunk were more parasitized than the head/neck. Tick bites were recorded throughout the year; while larvae did not show an evident seasonal pattern, nymphs attached to humans mainly in autumn and winter and the few adult bites were recorded in spring. Our results highlighted A. coelebs nymphs as major human-biters and evidenced the necessity of studies that discern human tick bites that occur after exposure to host-seeking ticks from those that occur after tick displacement from hosts that carry ticks to human dwellings.