Report on the presence of Amblyomma inornatum in Michoacán, Mexico

Authors: CARDENAS-AMAYA, C. - University Of Veracruzana; ROMERO-SALAS, D. - University Of Veracruzana; AGUILAR-DOMINGUEZ, M. - University Of Veracruzana; ALONSO-DIAZ, MA. - Autonomous National University Of Mexico; ROSAS-SAITO, G. - Institute De Ecologia - Mexico; Perez De Leon, Adalberto

Submitted to: La Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2025
Publication Date: 4/1/2025
Citation: Cardenas-Amaya, C., Romero-Salas, D., Aguilar-Dominguez, M., Alonso-Diaz, M., Rosas-Saito, G., Perez de Leon, A.A. 2025. Report on the presence of Amblyomma inornatum in Michoacán, Mexico. La Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias. 16(4):150-157. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v16s4.6699.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v16s4.6699

Interpretive Summary: Some tick species can be distributed widely. But sometimes information on their ecology can be missing for parts of their geographic range. This is the case for the tick scientifically known as Amblyomma inornatum, which can be found from south Texas through Central America. This tick requires 3 hosts to complete its life cycle. A. inornatum can parasitize cattle, humans, other domestic animals, and wildlife. In this study the presence of A. inornatum was confirmed infesting cattle in a ranch in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. Because it could be confused with ticks of similar appearance, the identity of A. inornatum was verified using the electron microscope. This tick is of veterinary and public health importance because it can transmit disease agents from domestic animals and wildlife to humans.

Technical Abstract: The genus Amblyomma includes ticks that parasitize a wide variety of terrestrial vertebrates in tropical and humid subtropical regions. Worldwide, 136 species have been identified, some of which are important in public and veterinary health because they act as vectors of zoonotic diseases. In Mexico, 17 species of ticks of the genus Amblyomma were initially identified, but this number has increased significantly over time. Currently, 25 species have been recorded that parasitize a diversity of hosts, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. In the state of Michoacán, the presence of Amblyomma inornatum, a neotropical species that shows a preference for infesting ruminants, has been documented. Despite its presence in the region, its status remains undefined due to the lack of information on its distribution and hosts. This species is relevant in the vectorial aspect, as it can transmit pathogenic microorganisms such as Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia, which can affect humans. A sampling was conducted in a Bovine Production Unit in Michoacán during November 2022, where the presence of A. inornatum was identified using scanning electron microscopy. This finding establishes its presence in the region and provides a basis for future research on its role as a vector and its host preferences.