Bothriocroton undatum, like all Bothriocroton, tend to be large, rounded ticks. That said, B. undatum is known to be among the smallest Bothriocroton. They are distinguished by their characteristic ornamentation. Females present with pale colouration between cervical grooves, whereas the male conscutum has whitish patches forming a wishbone shape, bifurcated posteriorly.[2]
Vector transmission
Bothriocroton undatum can carry Borrelia bacteria from the reptile-associated clade, related to Borrelia tachyglossi as described in Bothriocroton concolor. The degree of human or animal pathogenicity is similarly unknown.[3]
A Rickettsia tamurae strain has also been identified in B. undatum specimens.[3]R. tamurae from Amblyomma testudinarium has been reported to be able to infect humans, causing skin inflammation.[4]B. undatum, however, has no history of human infection.
References
↑ Fabricus, Johann Christian (1775). Systema entomologiae: sistens insectorvm classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibvs, observationibvs. Flensbvrgi et Lipsiae, In Officina Libraria Kortii. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.36510.
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