Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with small terrestrial mammals in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.

From June 2005 to November 2010, 43 small mammals encompassing 6 species of Didelphimorphia, 8 species of Rodentia, and 1 species of Lagomorphawere found parasitized by ticksin the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Nine tickspecies, in total 186 specimens, were identified as follows: Amblyomma cajennense(larvae and nymphs) on opossumsand rodents; Amblyommaovale ( nymphs) on rodents; Ambly- ommaparvum ( nymphs) on rodents; Amblyommacoelebs ( nymphs) on opossums; Amblyommadubitatum ( nymph) on opossums; Ixodesamarali (females, nymphs, and larvae) on opossumsand rodents; Ixodesloricatus (male, females, nymph) on opossums; Ixodesschulzei (female) on rodents; and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris(female) on rabbits. Most of the tick-host associations found in the present study have never been