Morphological and molecular characterization of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) isolated from wild animals undergoing rehabilitation.

Ticks are major global ectoparasites and vectors of zoonotic pathogens affecting wildlife conservation and public health. Wild animals can harbor ticks in their natural habitats or acquire them during rehabilitation, playing a critical role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. This study aimed to morphologically and molecularly characterize ticks collected from wild animals at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Antioquia, Colombia. Between 2023 and 2024, 245 ticks were incidentally collected from diverse wildlife hosts. Morphological identification was performed on 193 specimens, and molecular confirmation of a representative subset was achieved by PCR amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Ticks of the genus Amblyomma were predominant (56.4 %), with Amblyomma dissimile (49.2 %) being the most abundant species, followed by Ixodes spp. (41.9 %). Molecular characterization successfully confirmed the presence of Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma varium, Amblyomma longirostre, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes tropicalis, and Ixodes luciae. This study documents the specific tick diversity and host-ectoparasite interactions within a captive rehabilitation setting, highlighting significant taxonomic discrepancies between phenotypic and molecular diagnoses, including the first molecular confirmation of I. luciae in Colombia. These findings provide baseline data crucial for integrated surveillance and control strategies at the One Health interface.