Conclusion
I. ventalloi has been relegated to the sidelines for years due to its endophilic nature, apparent host specificity, and unknown vector importance. Accumulated evidence is, however, revealing a different reality for this small Ixodes.
As revised here, I. ventalloi presents a permissive feeding behaviors that might promote exposure to several blood-borne pathogens and the list of agents found in this species keeps growing. Of note is the fact that I. ventalloi is broadly found feeding on cats and can also parasitize men. Moreover, it is sympatric to the mega-vector I. ricinus and might contribute to the maintenance of its agents. Altogether these suggest a vector role for I. ventalloi, either directly or by sympatry with other ticks species, with potential public health implications and deserving further investigation.Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the FCT project PTDC/SAU-PAR/28947/2017. The authors thank Miguel Flores for the library assistance.
Conflict of interest
The authors do not disclose any conflict of interest.
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