Nosomma
Monotypic tick genus
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Nosomma monstrosum is a species of hard-bodied tick found in Asia. The species is found primarily on water buffalo. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Nosomma.
| Nosomma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Ixodidae |
| Genus: | Nosomma Schulze, 1919[1] |
| Species: | N. monstrosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Nosomma monstrosum | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Ecology and parasitism
Nosomma monstrosum is an obligate ectoparasite of mammals, particularly Asian water buffaloes. Adults are also known from cattle, pigs, dogs, bears and horses. Instars - larvae and nymphs - are mostly known to parasitise rodents and shrews.[2] The species is distributed across south and south-eastern Asia, being found in Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar and Tibet.[3]
Nosomma monstrosum is a likely three-host tick, although adverse environmental conditions may alter this behaviour.[4] While the species is found in the Kyasanur Forest disease endemic area, it is not known to be a vector.[5] Nosomma ticks are very rare parasites of humans, and no pathogenesis has been described.[6]
Taxonomy
Nosomma was first described by Schulze as a monotypic genus for the species Hyalomma monstrosum.[7] The genus is closely related to Dermacentor and Hyalomma.[3] Prakasan & Ramami described a new species, Nosomma keralensis, in 2007,[8] but the species has been subsequently rejected due to its poor description and unsuitable differentiating characters.[2][3]
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