First record of infestation of a pet sloth in Japan with the exotic tick Amblyomma geayi (Acari: Ixodidae)

First records of Amblyomma geayi and Amblyomma varium (Ixodida: Ixodidae) parasitizing sloths in Nicaragua

Ticks of the genus Amblyomma parasitize a wide variety of terrestrial vertebrate hosts, including humans. In Nicaragua, 14 species of ticks of the genus Amblyomma have been recorded. To our knowledge, no published records of ticks on sloths exist. However, A. varium, which parasitizes these hosts, was reported without an associated host. During 2023 and 2024, five sloths of two species (Bradypus variegatus and Choloepus hoffmanni) were rescued from four localities belonging to three Departments of Nicaragua. Two species of ticks were collected from the sloths, Amblyomma geayi and Amblyomma varium. Both records of ticks represent the first for Nicaragua in association with sloths. In this way, the richness of ticks of the genus Amblyomma in Nicaragua increases to 15 species.

Subcutaneous cysticercosis due to Taenia crassiceps (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in an imported steppe lemming in Japan

This study describes a subcutaneous proliferative cysticercosis in a pet steppe lemming, Lagurus lagurus (Rodentia: Cricetidae), bred and imported from Czech Republic into Japan. Numerous metacestodes were collected from the subcutaneous cystic lesion of the left medial thigh. Four surgical removals were coupled with anthelmintic treatment but ended with recurrence. Based on morphological features and mitochondrial DNA sequences, the metacestodes were identified as the larval stage of Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800). This is the first case of infection with larval T. crassiceps in rodents of the genus Lagurus, and becomes the third case of the parasite detected from imported animals in Japan. Related public health concerns are discussed.