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Infectious diseases, especially zoonotic, represent a significant global threat to both human and animal health. Ticks are among the primary vectors of pathogens affecting wild and domestic animals, some of which can also cause severe human diseases. To effectively face zoonotic diseases, the "One Health" approach is being promoted to integrate the health of human, animals, and ecosystems. Here, we identify the associations between ticks, rickettsiae, wild and domestic mammals, and humans in the Andean region of Colombia. A total of 366 ticks of 17 species belonging to the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, Ornithodoros, and Rhipicephalus were collected as free-living organisms, or parasitizing humans, wild (22 species) and domestic (3 species) mammals. Infection with Rickettsia parkeri strain NOD, Rickettsia cf. monacensis and 'Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae' was detected in 3.4% of the ticks analyzed (n = 3). This study highlights the diversity of ticks in humans and wild and domestic mammals in Colombia. It also underscores the risk these ectoparasites represent to human and animal health due to the potential transmission of zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia spp., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Some species within the family Plasmodiidae (Haemosporida) have been extensively studied due to their implications for human health. However, for other haemosporidians that infect wild animals the knowledge is limited. Species within the genus Polychromophilus have thus far been documented exclusively as hemoparasites of bats. Records of Polychromophilus are primarily from Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with limited information available for the Americas. Here, we assessed the state of knowledge on Polychromophilus species infecting bats worldwide and searched for the presence of Polychromophilus in blood samples of neotropical bats from Colombia. We found a total of 65 records of Polychromophilus in 46 bat species belonging to the families Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Rhinolophidae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae worldwide, except for Antarctica. In the Americas, records of the genus Polychromophilus are exclusively from Vespertilionidae bats in Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and Panama. The morphological and molecular analyses of blood from 125 bats, belonging to 39 species and captured in seven localities within the departments of Arauca and Caldas (Colombia), confirmed the presence of Polychromophilus deanei in a silver-tipped myotis, Myotis albescens (Vespertilionidae). This finding represents the first morphological and molecular confirmation of P . deanei in the Americas. Additionally, it expands the knowledge on the diversity and distribution of Polychromophilus in Neotropical bats., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.)

The hard tick clade (Ixodidae) currently comprises 762 species worldwide (266 Prostriata and 496 Metastriata). A quarter of hard ticks are found in the Neotropical region, and 42 species have been documented in Colombia. Ixodidae species are important vectors of pathogens such as bacteria, helminths, protozoa, and viruses. In tick-borne diseases, vertebrate hosts perform an important role in the transmission, maintenance, and spread of pathogens. Colombia ranks sixth among countries with the highest mammal biodiversity, with a total of 548 species, where some of these species may be involved in pathogen transmission cycles with ticks as vectors. This research evaluated the presence of two genera of bacteria (Borrelia and Rickettsia) and the protozoan (Babesia) in ticks and mammals in the Orinoquia region of Colombia, establishing interaction networks. The information comes from 734 mammals (655 wild and 79 domestic), belonging to 59 species. Tick infestation (n = 1,805) was found with 14.85 % (n = 109) of the examined mammals and corresponds to nine tick species confirmed morphologically and molecularly. To detect pathogens 272 ticks were collected while feeding on 96 mammals; samples from 93 mammals were analyzed. The presence of borreliae from the relapsing fever group (RFG) and the Lyme disease group (LDG) were detected. Rickettsia spp. was detected in ticks and mammals, while Babesia bigemina was only detected in ticks. This research is the first to address the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in domestic and wild mammals infested with hard ticks in the Department of Arauca, Colombia. Considering that reporting cases of infections with Babesia, Borrelia, and Rickettsia in Colombia is not mandatory, their impact on public health cannot be estimated. This highlights the importance of continuously detecting, confirming, and identifying these and other important pathogens within the "One Health" framework, as they have a significant economic and medical-veterinary impact globally., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Americas hold the greatest bird diversity worldwide. Likewise, ectoparasite diversity is remarkable, including ticks of the Argasidae and Ixodidae families - commonly associated with birds. Considering that ticks have potential health implications for humans, animals, and ecosystems, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effects of bioclimatic, geographic variables, and bird species richness on tick infestation on wild birds across the Americas. We identified 72 articles that met our inclusion criteria and provided data on tick prevalence in wild birds. Using Generalized Additive Models, we assessed the effect of environmental factors, such as habitat type, climatic conditions, bird species richness, and geographic location, on tick infestation. Our findings show that most bird infestation case studies involved immature ticks, such as larvae or nymphs, while adult ticks represented only 13% of case studies. We found birds infested by ticks of the genera Amblyomma (68%), Ixodes (22%), Haemaphysalis (5%), Dermacentor (1%), and Rhipicephalus (0.8%) in twelve countries across the Americas. Our findings revealed that temperature variation and bird species richness were negatively associated with tick infestation, which also varied with geographic location, increasing in mid-latitudes but declining in extreme latitudes. Our results highlight the importance of understanding how environmental and bird community factors influence tick infestation in wild birds across the Americas and the dynamics of tick-borne diseases and their impact on biodiversity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hyperparasitism is defined as the interaction where one parasite is infected by another parasite. In bat flies (Streblidae and Nycteribiidae), both hyperparasites and microparasites (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and arthropods such as mites) have been documented. Fungi belonging to the order Laboulbeniales are microscopic parasites of a wide diversity of arthropod hosts. Three genera exclusively target bat flies: Arthrorhynchus, which parasitizes species within Nycteribiidae in the Eastern Hemisphere, while genus Gloeandromyces and Nycteromyces parasitize Streblidae in the Western Hemisphere. Among the hyperparasitic arthropods, mites of family Neothrombidiidae, particularly the monospecific genus Monunguis, are known to parasitize bat flies. Here we present the first records of the hyperparasites Monunguis streblida and Gloeandromyces pageanus f. polymorphus parasitizing Streblidae bat flies in Colombia and a summary of these hyperparasitic interactions in the Neotropics. We detected fungi and mites parasitizing bat flies that were collected in the Magdalena River Basin, Colombia, in field expeditions in 2018, 2022, and 2023. We identified 17 bat flies and two species of hyperparasites, specifically M. streblida and the fungi Gloeandromyces. Our search for reports of these interactions in the Neotropics revealed that seven species of Trichobius (Streblidae) are parasitized by M. streblida, whereas Paratrichobius longicrus (Streblidae) is parasitized by Gloeandromyces pageanus f. polymorphus. These interactions have been reported in 11 countries, but our records are the first of M. streblida and Laboulbeniales fungi parasitizing bat flies in Colombia. So far, a total of 14 species of fungi and one species of mite have been associated with 19 species of bat flies, which in turn, are linked to 15 species of Neotropical bats., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of vertebrates and are relevant worldwide due to the number of bacterial and other pathogens they can transmit. To date, the knowledge about the microorganisms that ticks harbor and transmit to their hosts is incipient. In this study, 24 samples of mammals belonging to four taxonomic orders and ticks of the genera Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus from the Orinoco region of Colombia were analyzed to described and compare the bacterial microbiome. Genetic extraction was performed, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR. Libraries were created, and those samples with adequate quality indices were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology. Bacterial taxonomic assignment analyses were conducted through Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). The results correspond to 16 samples that passed the quality filters, with 3218 OTUs (415 families). Although a considerable number of unknown bacteria was found, Enterobacteriaceae, Beijerinckiaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Burkholderiaceae are the most prevalent families, and the presence of the genera Coxiella , Escherichia-Shigella , Enterobacter , which can harbor pathogenic species was confirmed. In individuals of Amblyomma mixtum found actively feeding on Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris , bacteria of the genera Escherichia-Shigella and Enterobacter were documented. Similarly, Rhipicephalus microplus found actively feeding on Odocoileus virginianus cariacou shared Escherichia-Shigella . Ralstonia was shared among the blood samples of H. hydrochaeris , while Anaplasma and Eubacterium were shared in blood and liver samples of O. v. cariacou . Shared bacteria between A. mixtum and R. microplus included Bacillus , Coxiella , and Escherichia-Shigella . The results highlight the need of additional studies in other natural regions of Colombia and other American countries where tick-borne diseases have been detected. Likewise, the recorded data are the first at the level of bacterial communities in ticks of the family Ixodidae and provide valuable knowledge for the understanding host-tick and pathogen interactions., Competing Interests: The authors disclose that no substantial portion of the study has been published or is under consideration for publication elsewhere and that its submission for publication has been approved by all the authors. All authors approve the submission of this article to International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The genus Rhinella (Bufonidae) comprises 92 species of Neotropical toads. In Colombia, Rhinella is represented by 22 recognized species, of which nine belong to the Rhinellafestae group. Over the past decade, there has been increasing evidence of cryptic diversity within this group, particularly in the context of Andean forms. Specimens of Rhinella collected in high Andean forests on both slopes of the Central Cordillera in Colombia belong to an undescribed species, Rhinellakumanday sp. nov. Genetic analyses using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene indicated that the individuals belong to the festae species group. However, they can be distinguished from other closely related species such as Rhinellaparaguas and Rhinellatenrec by a combination of morphological traits including the presence of tarsal fold, a moderate body size, and substantial genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA gene (> 5%). Through this integrative approach, the specimens from the Central Cordillera of Colombia are considered an evolutionary divergent lineage that is sister to R.paraguas , and described as a new species. Rhinellakumanday sp. nov. is restricted to the Central Cordillera of Colombia inhabiting both slopes in the departments of Caldas and Tolima, in an elevational range between 2420 and 3758 m. With the recognition of this new species, the genus Rhinella now comprises 93 species with 23 of them found in Colombia, and ten species endemic to the country., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Luis Santiago Caicedo-Martínez, Jose J. Henao-Osorio, Héctor Fabio Arias-Monsalve, Julián Andrés Rojas-Morales, Paula A. Ossa-López, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves.)

Even in the genomics era, the phylogeny of Neotropical small felids comprised in the genus Leopardus remains contentious. We used whole-genome resequencing data to construct a time-calibrated consensus phylogeny of this group, quantify phylogenomic discordance, test for interspecies introgression, and assess patterns of genetic diversity and demographic history. We infer that the Leopardus radiation started in the Early Pliocene as an initial speciation burst, followed by another in its subgenus Oncifelis during the Early Pleistocene. Our findings challenge the long-held notion that ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (L. wiedii) are sister species and instead indicate that margay is most closely related to the enigmatic Andean cat (L. jacobita), whose whole-genome data are reported here for the first time. In addition, we found that the newly sampled Andean tiger cat (L. tigrinus pardinoides) population from Colombia associates closely with Central American tiger cats (L. tigrinus oncilla). Genealogical discordance was largely attributable to incomplete lineage sorting, yet was augmented by strong gene flow between ocelot and the ancestral branch of Oncifelis, as well as between Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi) and southern tiger cat (L. guttulus). Contrasting demographic trajectories have led to disparate levels of current genomic diversity, with a nearly tenfold difference in heterozygosity between Andean cat and ocelot, spanning the entire range of variability found in extant felids. Our analyses improved our understanding of the speciation history and diversity patterns in this felid radiation, and highlight the benefits to phylogenomic inference of embracing the many heterogeneous signals scattered across the genome., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

The genus Molossops includes two monotypic species of insectivore bats distributed in South America: Molossopsneglectus and Molossopstemminckii . Both can be differentiated, based on sizes, M.temminckii being smaller (forearm less than 33 mm). Despite being monotypic, at least two additional subspecies have been described for M.temminckii , of which M.temminckiigriseiventer from the inter-Andean Valley of the Magdalena River in Colombia might represent a valid taxon. To test the taxonomic status of M.t.griseiventer , we reviewed specimens of M.temminckii from cis- and trans-Andean localities in Colombia. We used Cytochrome-b and Cytochrome Oxidase I comparisons to test the phylogenetic position of cis- and trans-Andean samples and compared qualitative morphology, morphometric and bioacoustics. Our results show that M.t.griseiventer is differentiated from cis-Andean specimens, providing further evidence of its validity at the species level. Furthermore, M.temminckii (sensu stricto) is also distributed in Colombia, but both M.griseiventer and M.temminckii are allopatric, with the Andes acting as a barrier. The specific identity of the specimens from the Caribbean Region of Colombia needs a new evaluation, but our results clearly show that the diversity of Molossops is underestimated., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves, Darwin M. Morales-Martínez, Daniela Martínez-Medina, Paula A. Ossa-López, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez.)

The western or desert red bat, Lasiurusfrantzii , is a cryptic insectivore species distributed in the Neotropics from Mexico south through Central America to Panama. L.frantzii was long considered a subspecies of the red bat, Lasiurusblossevillii , but recently it was elevated to full-species status based on genetic information. Here we present evidence of the presence of L.frantzii in the Andean Region of Colombia, confirming the species' presence in South America; the new record, from 3836 m a.s.l., is also the highest elevation known for the species. We suggest that L.frantzii might be widely distributed in trans-Andean areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and perhaps Peru and Bolivia. However, a review and exploration of additional morphological traits to identify the species are necessary because of the uncertainty of the distribution of L.frantzii ., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves, Alexandra Cardona-Giraldo, Paula A. Ossa-López, Héctor Fabio Arias Monsalve, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Darwin M. Morales-Martínez.)

Bat flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) have been used to study co-evolutionary patterns between ectoparasites and bats. In the world, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are represented by approximately 276 and 237 species, respectively. In regions such as the Orinoquia located in the north of South America (Colombia and Venezuela), the richness of bats is high (more than 100 documented species), but studies on Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are scarce and discontinuous. To contribute to the knowledge of ectoparasitic flies in the Orinoquia, records of flies and their interactions with bats were reviewed, including new records and associations using interaction networks. We documented 124 species of Streblidae and only 12 of Nycteribiidae for the Orinoquia in approximately 102 bat species reported in Colombia and Venezuela. New records for six species of bat flies in Colombia were found ( Mastopteraguimaraesi , Noctiliostreblamaai , Paradyschiriaparvuloides , Trichobiusjubatus , Trichobiusparasiticus , and Basiliaferrisi ) associated with six species of bats ( Cynomopsplanirostris , Desmodusrotundus , Myotishandleyi , Molossusrufus , Noctilioalbiventris , and Phyllostomushastatus ). The bat-ectoparasite interaction networks in the Orinoquia revealed a pattern of antagonistic relationships, with high specialization, modularity, and low connectivity and nesting. The identified networks are between bat fly species belonging to different ecomorphological groups with unique host species. This supports the idea of ecological niche partitioning among ectoparasitic bat flies and hosts. Our study expanded the knowledge of the distribution of some fly species and the associations with bat hosts in Colombia, by presenting morphological descriptions and new observations, which are key to understanding the ecology, diversity, and distribution of these species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Erika M. Ospina-Pérez, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves.)

A large number of tick species are proven vectors for the transmission of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) in South America have been found to be the most frequent carriers of borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG); however, there are several information gaps specially on the taxonomy and distribution of some tick species. Here, we used light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene to evaluate 174 larvae of Ornithodoros (Argasidae) collected from three bat species (Eptesicus orinocensis, Molossus rufus and Noctilio albiventris) in the Orinoquia Region of Colombia. The morphological and molecular results confirmed that all the analyzed larvae corresponded to Ornithodoros hasei. Comparisons of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences showed low genetic divergence (0% - 0.3%) between larvae of the Department of Arauca in the Orinoquia Region and higher genetic divergence (3.4 - 4.7%) in sequences from other American countries. Our work represents the most recent collection of this species in Colombia and provides a molecular evaluation for the first time. Moreover, a new association of O. hasei with bats such as E. orinocensis is documented. Considering the wide distribution of O. hasei in the American Continent, and its putative role as vector for Borrelia, integrative studies that involve morphological, morphometric, molecular data and experimental crosses are needed to determine if the higher genetic distances are associated with cryptic speciation, as detected in other tick complexes, or represent genetic divergences among geographically different populations of O. hasei., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

The genus Borrelia encompasses spirochetal species that are part of three well-defined groups. Two of these groups contain pathogens that affect humans: the group causing Lyme disease (LDG) and the relapsing fever group (RFG). Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., which is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and relapsing fevers are caused by Borrelia spp., which are found in temperate and tropical countries and are an emerging but neglected pathogens. In some departments of Colombia, there are records of the presence of Borrelia sp. in humans and bats. However, little is known about the impact and circulation of Borrelia spp. in the country, especially in wildlife, which can act as a reservoir and/or amplifying host. In this context, the objective of our research was to detect and identify the Borrelia species present in wild mammals in the departments of Caldas and Risaralda in Colombia. For morphological detection, blood smears and organ imprints were performed, and molecular identification was carried out through a nested PCR directed on the flagellin B ( flaB ) gene. A total of 105 mammals belonging to three orders (Chiroptera, Didelphimorphia and Rodentia) were analyzed, of which 15.24% ( n = 16) were positive for Borrelia . Molecularly, the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. in lung tissues of Thomasomys aureus and blood of Mus musculus (Rodentia) was detected, with 99.64 and 100% identity, respectively. Borrelia sp. genospecies from a clade branch of a bat-associated LDG sister group were identified in seven individuals of bat species, such as Artibeus lituratus , Carollia brevicauda , Sturnira erythromos , and Glossophaga soricina . Furthermore, two Borrelia genospecies from the RFG in seven individuals of bats ( A. lituratus , Artibeus jamaicensis , Platyrrhinus helleri , Mesophylla macconnelli , Rhynchonycteris naso ) and rodents ( Coendou rufescens , Microryzomys altissimus ) were documented. Additionally, the presence of a spirochete was detected by microscopy in the liver of a Sturnira erythromos bat specimen. These results contain the first molecular evidence of the presence of B. burgdorferi s.s. in South America, which merits the need for comprehensive studies involving arthropods and vertebrates (including humans) in other departments of Colombia, as well as neighboring countries, to understand the current status of the circulation of Borrelia spp. in South America.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious, worldwide disease that affects the skin of mammals, including humans. It is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei , however, the information available in wild mammal populations in the world, and particularly in Colombia is limited. Here, we document a new case of sarcoptic mange in an Andean porcupine ( Coendou quichua ) from the Andean region of Colombia. We morphologically and molecularly confirmed the mite as S. scabiei and documented the histopathology associated with scabies, and show the different stages of the life cycle of S. scabiei from the Andean porcupine skin samples. Our review of reports of additional cases of scabies in wild mammal species in South America showed 15 species, mostly carnivores, artiodactyls, and rodents. Considering the limited information in Colombia, it is urgent to evaluate the risk of this condition on mammals which would contribute to the epidemiological knowledge and the potential implications of sarcoptic mange in the ecology and conservation of wild mammals in the country., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Interest in research on soft ticks has increased in recent decades, leading to valuable insight into their role as disease vectors. The use of metagenomics-based analyses have helped to elucidate ecological factors involved in pathogen, vector, and host dynamics. To understand the main bacterial assemblages present in Ornithodoros cf. hasei and its mammalian hosts, 84 ticks and 13 blood samples from bat hosts (Chiroptera) were selected, and the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was sequenced in five pools (each one related to each host-tick pairing). Bacterial taxonomic assignment analyses were performed by comparing operational taxonomic units (OTUs) shared between ticks and their host blood. This analysis showed the presence of Proteobacteria (38.8%), Enterobacteriaceae (25%), Firmicutes (12.3%), and Actinobacteria (10.9%) within blood samples, and Rickettsiaceae (39%), Firmicutes (25%), Actinobacteria (13.1%), and Proteobacteria (9%) within ticks. Species related to potentially pathogenic genera were detected in ticks, such as Borrelia sp., Bartonella tamiae, Ehrlichia sp. and Rickettsia-like endosymbiont, and the presence of these organisms was found in all analyzed bat species (Cynomops planirostris, Molossus pretiosus, Noctilio albiventris), and O. cf. hasei. About 41-48.6% of bacterial OTUs (genera and species) were shared between ticks and the blood of bat hosts. Targeted metagenomic screening techniques allowed the detection of tick-associated pathogens for O. cf. hasei and small mammals for the first time, enabling future research on many of these pathogens., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Ticks of the Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) group are represented by three species: Amblyomma maculatum, Amblyomma tigrinum, and Amblyomma triste. This group is widely distributed throughout the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, from the United States of America (USA) to Argentina. They parasitize several vertebrates, including domestic mammals and humans. Nonetheless, the identification and distribution of the species within the group have been controversial but can be solved with integrative studies on their taxonomy and ecology. In Colombia, a Neotropical country from which up to 58 tick species have been reported, only Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844 (sensu stricto - s.s.) - morphotype II - has been molecularly confirmed. Here, specimens of the A. maculatum group from three departments of Colombia were examined by morphological and molecular analyses. The results confirmed the wide distribution of A. maculatum s.s. in Colombia. Furthermore, the presence of A. triste s.s. - morphotype I was confirmed for the first time at the molecular level, which broadens the distribution of this species in the American continent. Considering that both taxa are vectors of pathogens such as Rickettsia parkeri s.s., additional taxonomic, reproductive compatibility and niche distribution studies are needed, as well as the application of new molecular markers due to the controversial taxonomy. This will allow us to explore cryptic diversity within the recently established putative groups., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)