[Space-temporal distribution of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks analyzed by geoprocessing in the municipality of Seropédica, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].

The Geo-Environmental System of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro was used with the objective of analyzing the space-temporal distribution of Boophilus microplus ticks in the municipality of Seropédica in different types of pasture, breeding and animal density. Geo-environmental variables, climatic parameters, type of pasture, breeding and animal densities were evaluated and the results were signed. The pasture areas were categorized as very favorable, favorable, little favorable and unfavorable to the development of B. microplus. The lowest favorable rates occurred in the summer and the highest favorable rates occurred in the winter. In the summer, 100% of the areas were unfavorable with animal densities from 1.1 to 1.4 animal unit per hectare (AUH), native pastures and resistant animals. On the other hand, with susceptible animals, keeping the same conditions, the areas were classified as little favorable. Favorability was similar for animal densities from 0.5 to 1.4 AUH and was higher for animal densities from 1.5 to 1.9 AUH. In the winter, the areas were unfavorable with similar rates when resistant animals, with densities < 0.5AUH, native and mixed pastures were used. However, the area of occurrence of ticks was enlarged when cultivated pastures were used. Keeping the same conditions, but using susceptible animals, the favorability rate changed to little favorable for native and mixed pastures, expanding to favorable in cultivated pastures. The methodology used allowed the identification and the quantification of areas of occurrence of B. microplus, as well as its temporal distribution and the effects of animal density, breeding and pasture variations.