Parásitos en un venado de cola blanca silvestre en Cajamarca, Perú

En el presente estudio se informa sobre los parásitos encontrados en un venado de cola blanca, Odocoileus virginianus peruvianus, capturado en el bosque seco del distrito de Paccha, provincia de Chota, departamento de Cajamarca. El Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre recuperó los parásitos de un espécimen macho adulto y las remitió al Centro de Investigación en Medicina Tropical de la Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca para la identificación taxonómica de helmintos y artrópodos, y análisis coproparasitológico. Se identificaron dos metacéstodos correspondientes a Cysticercus tenuicollis. En los análisis coproparasitológicos cualitativos se hallaron huevos de Nematodirus spp. en una carga de 10 por gramo de heces (h.p.g.) y 40 h.p.g. tipo Strongílidos que no pudieron diferenciarse por la baja carga en el coprocultivo. No se detectaron huevos de trematodos en la sedimentación. De ectoparásitos, se identificaron ocho garrapatas duras Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus y cinco piojos chupadores Solenopotes binipilosus. Varios de los ejemplares fueron depositados en el Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima. Los hallazgos representan el primer reporte formal de la garrapata común del ganado en esta subespecie de cérvido. Además, se registra por primera vez la presencia del piojo Solenopotes binipilosus en territorio peruano.

In the present study, findings regarding parasites discovered in a white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus peruvianus, captured in the dry forest of the Paccha district, Chota province, Cajamarca department, are reported. The Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre recovered parasites from an adult male specimen and forwarded them to the Tropical Medicine Research Center at the Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca for taxonomic identification of helminths and arthropods, as well as coproparasitological analysis. Two metacestodes corresponding to Cysticercus tenuicollis were identified. Qualitative coproparasitological analyses revealed Nematodirus spp. eggs at a concentration of 10 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and 40 EPG of Strongylid type that could not be differentiated due to low counts in the coproculture. No trematode eggs were detected in the sedimentation. Among ectoparasites, eight hard ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and five sucking lice Solenopotes binipilosus were identified. Several specimens were deposited in the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima. These findings represent the first formal report of the common cattle tick in this subspecies of cervid. Additionally, the presence of the Solenopotes binipilosus louse in Peruvian territory is reported for the first time.

Ectoparasite occurrence associated with males and females of wild rodents Oligoryzomys flavescens (Waterhouse) and Akodon azarae (Fischer) (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) in the Punta Lara wetlands, Argentina

The objective of this research was to study infestation parameters and indexes of ectoparasites associated with each sex of the wild rodents Oligoryzomys flavescens (Waterhouse) andAkodon azarae (Fischer) in the Punta Lara wetlands, Argentina. A trend towards higher mean abundance (MA) and ectoparasite specific richness was observed in males of O. flavescens whereas those values were similar for both A. azarae sexes. The prevalence of the following ectoparasites was significantly higher on males (P < 0.05): Mysolaelaps microspinosus Fonseca (65.2 percent) and Hoplopleura travassosi Werneck (73.9 percent) on O. flavescens, and Ixodes loricatus Neumann (71.4 percent) on A. azarae. Only H. travassosi mean abundance was significantly higher on males (MA = 44.1). Since I. loricatus and Hoplopleura spp. are involved in the transmission of pathogens that cause diseases in animals and humans, and whose reservoirs are rodent hosts, these results are epidemiologically important.

First report of mites (Gamasida: Laelapidae) parasitic on wild rodents in Uruguay, with new host records

Information is presented for the first time on laelapid mites associated with wild rodents in Uruguay. Specimens of the following species were identified: Laelapinae: Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Berlese), Androlaelaps rotundus (Fonseca), Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni (Oudemans), Laelaps paulistanensis (Fonseca), Laelaps manguinhosi (Fonseca) and Mysolaelaps microspinosus Fonseca; Haemogamasinae: Eulaelaps stabularis (Koch). Most of the ectoparasite-host associations are reported for the first time. New host and locality records presented in this study are in accordance with previous findings on the same and/or related host species in nearby South American localities.

Se presenta por primera vez información sobre ácaros lelápidos asociados a roedores silvestres en Uruguay. Se identificaron especímenes de las siguientes especies: Laelapinae: Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Berlese), Androlaelaps rotundus (Fonseca), Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni (Oudemans), Laelaps paulistanensis Fonseca, Laelaps manguinhosi Fonseca y Mysolaelaps microspinosus Fonseca; Haemogamasinae: Eulaelaps stabularis (Koch). La mayoría de las asociaciones ectoparásito-hospedador se registran por primera vez. Los nuevos registros de hospedador y localidad que se presentan en este estudio coinciden con hallazgos previos en las mismas, o estrechamente relacionadas, especies hospedadoras en localidades cercanas de Sud América.

The relationship of sex and ectoparasite infestation in the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in La Plata, Argentina

I studied the relationship between sex and infestation with ectoparasites in the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus from La Plata river marshland, Argentina. The Relative Density's Index (RDI) for males was 3.90% (females 3.60%). A total of 2653 ectoparasites were collected on 33 male hosts, and 1945 on 31 females. Ectoparasite specific richness (S) and diversity (H) were S = 14, H = 1.17 on males, and S = 10, H = 1.52 on females. The similarity between male and female rodents according to their ectoparasites was 75.00%. Although no ectoparasite species showed significant mean abundance (MA) differences between host sexes (p < 0.05), and only Laelaps manguinhosi prevalence was significantly higher on male hosts (N = 2.01, p < 0.05) in this study, there are reasons to think that the sex of the water rat affects ectoparasite burden and specific richness. This information has epidemiological potential because the closely related Scapteromys tumidus is involved in the transmission of Rickettsia coronii, which causes Marsella fever in humans.

Se estudió la interrelación entre el sexo de la rata de agua Scapteromys aquaticus y su infestación por ectoparásitos en la ribera del Río de la Plata, Argentina. El índice de densidad relativa de los machos fue 3.90 % y el de las hembras 3.60%. Se recolectó 2653 ectoparásitos de 33 machos y 1945 de 31 hembras. La riqueza (S) y diversidad específicas (H) de los ectoparásitos fueron S = 14, H = 1.17 en los machos y S = 10, H = 1.52 en las hembras. La similitud entre sexos fue del 75.00%. Si bien ningún ectoparásito en este estudio mostró diferencias significativas en su abundancia media entre los hospedadores de diferente sexo (p<0.05) y sólo la prevalencia de Laelaps manguinhosi fue significativamente mayor en los machos (N = 2.01, p<0.05), otros datos sugieren que sí existe un patrón de diferencias sexuales.

A method for testing the host specificity of ectoparasites: give them the opportunity to choose

Host-choice experiments were carried out with rodent and bat ectoparasites on Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We constructed experimental chambers that enclosed three different rodent or bat host species, and then introduced a selected set of ectoparasitic arthropods. When given the opportunity to choose among host species, the ectoparasites showed a strong tendency to select their primary hosts, and reject novel host species. These kinds of simple experiments can be valuable tools for assessing the ability of ectoparasites to locate and discern differences between host species, and make choices about which hosts to infest, and which hosts to avoid.

Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis (Jordan & Rothschild) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae, Rhopalopsyllinae), a new record in Brazil

Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis s. l. (Jordan & Rothschild) foi assinalada pela primeira vez no Brasil nos municípios de Capão da Canoa, Tramandaí e Osório, RS. Novos registros de hospedeiros são dados para a espécie, com a inclusão de Ctenomys flamarioni (Travi) e Ctenomys minutus (De Blainville). Variações morfológicas foram também observadas entre os espécimes coletados sobre mesma espécie de hospedeiro e em mesma localidade, evidenciando alguma hibridização entre as duas subspécies e impossibilitando a determinação do status subespecífico. O número de espécies de pulgas conhecidas para o Brasil é aumentado para 60.

Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis s. l. (Jordan & Rothschild) is recorded for the first time from Brazil in the municipalities of Capão da Canoa, Tramandaí and Osório, RS. New hostrecords for this flea include Ctenomys flamarioni (Travi) and Ctenomys minutus (De Blainville). Morphological variations were also observed among the flea specimens collected on the same species of host at the same municipality, evidencing some hybridization between the two subspecies and disabling the determination of the subspecific status. The number of known species of Brazilian Siphonaptera is now 60.

New data on the morphology of Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae)

The study was carried out on the basis of 208 specimens of both sexes from a wide geographical range, from central Brazil to central Argentina. The morphology of diagnostic features of Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) including the presence or absence of the ductus of the spermatheca with a thick wall, the shape of the posterior margin of seventh sternum in females, and the size of the angle between the distal and the proximal arms of the basal part of the aedeagal tubus, and the number of convolutions made by the coil of the aedeagal tubus interior in males, have been studied. The results obtained are important in clarifying some difficulty in species recognition. Besides, the variability of some characteristics between specimens from disjoint localities in Brazil and Argentina is also noticed.

O estudo baseou-se em 208 espécimes, coletados em uma ampla faixa geográfica situada entre os centros do Brasil e da Argentina. Morfologicamente, as características utilizadas para a identificação de Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) foram estudadas, tais como a presença ou ausência do duto da espermateca com margens espessadas e a forma da margem posterior do esternito VII, entre as fêmeas, bem como o ângulo entre os braços proximal e distal do tubo interno do aedeagus e o número de suas circunvoluções, nos exemplares machos. Os resultados obtidos são importantes para subsidiarem o reconhecimento da espécie. A variabilidade de algumas características entre exemplares de localidades disjuntas no Brasil e Argentina é também noticiada.

Presencia de amblyopinodes gahani gahani (Fauvel, 1901) (coleoptera: staphylinidae: ambliopininae) en localidades ribereñas de la Argentina / Presence of amblyopinodes gahani gahani (Fauvel, 1901) (coleoptera: staphylinidae: ambliopininae) in riverine localities from Argentina

Se analiza la presencia de Amblyopinodes gahani gahani (Fauvel, 1901) en localidades ribereñas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. De las seis especies de roedores capturados, A. g. gahani fue recolectado sólo de Oxymycterus rufus (Fisher, 1814) de Hudson, Punta Lara y La Balandra, y de Scapteromys aquaticus Thomas 1920 de las localidades mencionadas, así como de Los Talas. En las restantes localidades, Ramallo y Palo Blanco, donde no se capturaron ejemplares de O. rufus, tampoco se recolectaron especimenes de A. g. gahani. Los resultados obtenidos confirman conocimientos previos respecto de la relación entre este ambliopinino y O. rufus.

Arthropod and filarioid parasites associated with wild rodents in the northeast marshes of Buenos Aires, Argentina

During 1995, 16 species of arthropods and 2 species of filarioids, totaling 1 287 specimens were collected from 64 wild rodents captured in the Hudson Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Infestation parameters and indexes were analyzed. Host specific richness was S = 6, diversity H = 1.48, and relative density RDI = 40 percent. High values of parasite species richness and diversity were found on Oligoryzomys delticola (S = 9; H = 1.40), Oxymycterus rufus (S = 9; H = 1.37), and Oligoryzomys flavescens (S = 9; H = 1.28), followed by Scapteromys aquaticus (S = 6; H = 0.17), and Akodon azarae (S = 4; H = 1.20). Deltamys kempi was infested only by Androlaelaps rotundus. O. delticola and O. flavescens showed the highest similarity index (O = 74.19 percent), followed by O. flavescens with S. aquaticus, as a result of historical processes and shared microhabitats. Considering arthropods-filarioids associations, significant affinity was observed in Litomosoides bonaerensis with Hoplopleura travassosi, Laelaps paulistanensis, and Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni

Interrelationship between ectoparasites and wild rodents from northeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Infestation parameters and indices of mites, ticks and fleas associated with wild rodents from northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, were studied. Host species similarity was also analyzed in relation to their ectoparasites. Fifty-five rodents were captured from January 2000 to March 2001. In total, 1,022 ectoparasites were collected and three ectoparasite-host associations were new records. However, this is the first study on Craneopsylla minerva wolffhuegeli infesting parameters. Ectoparasite total mean abundance and total prevalence were higher in Holochilus brasiliensis (MA = 47.7; P = 100 percent) and Scapteromys aquaticus (MA = 25.4; P = 95.4 percent), meanwhile specific richness and diversity were higher in Oligoryzomys flavescens (S = 6; H = 1.3) and Akodon azarae (S = 4; H = 1.0). On the other hand, the only individual of Calomys laucha was not parasited. S. aquaticus-H. brasiliensis, which preferred similar microhabitats, shared the same ectoparasite species (Css = 100). Whereas, A. azarae, which was mostly associated with grassland, showed the highest difference with the other hosts (Css < 0.4). Considering every ectoparasite species, H. brasiliensis showed the highest mean abundance, prevalence and preference. The results suggest that the particular characteristics of this rodent would give it better possibilities not only of being infested by ectoparasites, but also of transmitting them to its progeny

Mites (Acari: Laelapidae) associated with sigmodontinae rodents in Entre Ríos Province, Argentina

The richness, diversity, abundance and prevalence of mite species associated with sigmodontine rodents of different species in Entre Ríos province, Argentina are studied. Five of the six species of mites were reported for the first time in the study area. The richness and diversity of mites was higher on Oligoryzomys flavescens and O. delticola than on Akodon azarae. Androlaelaps rotundus was dominant and exhibited higher values of mean abundance and prevalence on A. azarae, Mysolaelaps microspinosus on O. flavescens and Gigantolaelaps mattogrossensis on O. delticola