Abstract

ALVAREZ C., Víctor; BONILLA M., Roberto  and  CHACON G., Idania. Distribución de la garrapata Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) sobre Bos taurus y Bos indicus en Costa Rica. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2000, vol.48, n.1, pp.129-135. ISSN 0034-7744.

Resistance to acaricides in the cattle tick population was surveyed in 532 farms throughout Costa Rica. Samples were collected from bovines (Bos taurus and Bos indicus), in three production systems: dairy, meat and double-purpose. There is an uneven distribution of Amblyomma spp. (including A. cajennense, A. maculatum and A. oblongoguttatum) in the administrative regions in which the country is divided, as well as in ecological zones. Administratively, Amblyomma spp., was 12 times more frecuent (X², p<0.001) in the Central Pacific and Chorotega regions (Pacific coast), than elsewhere. Ecologically, ticks of this genus were more common in the Tropical Humid Forest (33 %) and the Very Humid Montain Forest (18 %). There was at least one sample of Amblyomma in 41% of counties. The most frecuent Amblyomma was A. cajennense. The wide distribution of Amblyomma spp. in very warm places with a marked six months rainy season suggests a potential danger of the substitution capacity of Amblyomma spp., which can also affect public health. The paper also reviews Amblyomma literature in detail.

Keywords : ticks; Costa Rica.