Por Maria João Coimbra-Dores (PhD Student FCUL - BEGC, CESAM).
Rhipicephalus genus (Acari: Ixodida) contains groups of closely related tick species that need to be re-evaluated due to their taxonomic complexity. Their diversity is suggested to be under-quantified, since recently many presumptive cryptic species are being uncovered. As vectors of several pathogenic agents, these ixodids are likely to play an important role in the current increasing distribution of some emerging infectiousdiseases, which are nowadays a challenge for both public health management and global economies. Since its vectorial capacity is suggested to be species-related, a clear determination of these species neglected diversity and specific geographic distribution can eventually lead to the identification of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) transmission risk areas. The improvement of tick-host-pathogen systems evaluation tools will be important to help in the identification of tick-borne diseases transmission risk areas in the Iberia Peninsula, and evaluate current ecological conditions that favour the presence of several hard ticks and its reservoirs species. Such knowledge will enable the prediction of potential impacts that these agents can trigger in diverse scenarios of Climate Change.
