Acarofauna of Neotropical reptiles: Integrative morphology and vector competence of zoonotic pathogens

Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan; Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos; Darci Moraes Barros Battesti; Domenico Otranto

doi:10.1016/bs.apar.2025.04.002

Acarofauna of Neotropical reptiles: Integrative morphology and vector competence of zoonotic pathogens

Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan^*
, Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos
, Darci Moraes Barros Battesti
, Domenico Otranto

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author) › peer-review

Abstract

The Neotropical region stands out as a megadiverse area in terms of herpetofauna, hosting more than 4457 species, 2233 of which are distributed across South America. Reptiles are recognized as amplifiers and reservoirs of several pathogens, yet their role in disease cycles and the vectorial potential of their mites and ticks remain poorly understood. These hosts are infested by over 500 species of mites and ticks, classified into 61 genera across 13 families within the orders Trombidiformes (Acariformes), Mesostigmata, and Ixodida (Parasitiformes). Some of these arthropods may serve as vectors of reptile vector-borne diseases (RVBDs), that include bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens of zoonotic concern. In this article, we explore the main groups of mites and ticks that infest reptiles in the Neotropical region, with a particular focus on vector-borne zoonotic pathogens of reptiles. In addition, we discuss the intricate relationships between these animals, arthropod vectors, and the zoonotic pathogens they may transmit. © 2025

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Parasitology
Editors	Cinzia Cantacessi
Publisher	Academic Press
Chapter	2
Pages	27-64
Volume	127
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apar.2025.04.002
Publication status	Published - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	Advances in Parasitology
ISSN (Print)	0065-308X

Funding

The co- authors, JAMR, MABS, and DO were supported by the EU funding within the MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Project no. PE00000007, INF-ACT). The authors thank Natalizia Palazzo for their contribution to data analyses.

Research Keywords

Mites
Reptiles
Ticks
Vector borne pathogens

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10.1016/bs.apar.2025.04.002

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abstract = "The Neotropical region stands out as a megadiverse area in terms of herpetofauna, hosting more than 4457 species, 2233 of which are distributed across South America. Reptiles are recognized as amplifiers and reservoirs of several pathogens, yet their role in disease cycles and the vectorial potential of their mites and ticks remain poorly understood. These hosts are infested by over 500 species of mites and ticks, classified into 61 genera across 13 families within the orders Trombidiformes (Acariformes), Mesostigmata, and Ixodida (Parasitiformes). Some of these arthropods may serve as vectors of reptile vector-borne diseases (RVBDs), that include bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens of zoonotic concern. In this article, we explore the main groups of mites and ticks that infest reptiles in the Neotropical region, with a particular focus on vector-borne zoonotic pathogens of reptiles. In addition, we discuss the intricate relationships between these animals, arthropod vectors, and the zoonotic pathogens they may transmit. {\textcopyright} 2025",

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language = "English",

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Acarofauna of Neotropical reptiles: Integrative morphology and vector competence of zoonotic pathogens. / Mendoza-Roldan, Jairo Alfonso; Bezerra-Santos, Marcos Antônio; Moraes Barros Battesti, Darci et al.
Advances in Parasitology. ed. / Cinzia Cantacessi . Vol. 127 Academic Press, 2025. p. 27-64 (Advances in Parasitology).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Acarofauna of Neotropical reptiles

T2 - Integrative morphology and vector competence of zoonotic pathogens

AU - Mendoza-Roldan, Jairo Alfonso

AU - Bezerra-Santos, Marcos Antônio

AU - Moraes Barros Battesti, Darci

AU - Otranto, Domenico

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The Neotropical region stands out as a megadiverse area in terms of herpetofauna, hosting more than 4457 species, 2233 of which are distributed across South America. Reptiles are recognized as amplifiers and reservoirs of several pathogens, yet their role in disease cycles and the vectorial potential of their mites and ticks remain poorly understood. These hosts are infested by over 500 species of mites and ticks, classified into 61 genera across 13 families within the orders Trombidiformes (Acariformes), Mesostigmata, and Ixodida (Parasitiformes). Some of these arthropods may serve as vectors of reptile vector-borne diseases (RVBDs), that include bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens of zoonotic concern. In this article, we explore the main groups of mites and ticks that infest reptiles in the Neotropical region, with a particular focus on vector-borne zoonotic pathogens of reptiles. In addition, we discuss the intricate relationships between these animals, arthropod vectors, and the zoonotic pathogens they may transmit. © 2025

AB - The Neotropical region stands out as a megadiverse area in terms of herpetofauna, hosting more than 4457 species, 2233 of which are distributed across South America. Reptiles are recognized as amplifiers and reservoirs of several pathogens, yet their role in disease cycles and the vectorial potential of their mites and ticks remain poorly understood. These hosts are infested by over 500 species of mites and ticks, classified into 61 genera across 13 families within the orders Trombidiformes (Acariformes), Mesostigmata, and Ixodida (Parasitiformes). Some of these arthropods may serve as vectors of reptile vector-borne diseases (RVBDs), that include bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens of zoonotic concern. In this article, we explore the main groups of mites and ticks that infest reptiles in the Neotropical region, with a particular focus on vector-borne zoonotic pathogens of reptiles. In addition, we discuss the intricate relationships between these animals, arthropod vectors, and the zoonotic pathogens they may transmit. © 2025

KW - Mites

KW - Reptiles

KW - Ticks

KW - Vector borne pathogens

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ER -

Acarofauna of Neotropical reptiles: Integrative morphology and vector competence of zoonotic pathogens

Abstract

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