A method for testing the host specificity of ectoparasites: give them the opportunity to choose
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
100(7): 761-764, Nov. 2005. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-419703
RESUMO
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.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Arthropods
/
Rodentia
/
Behavior, Animal
/
Chiroptera
/
Choice Behavior
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina
/
Brazil
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centro de Estudos Parasitológicos y de Vetores/AR
/
FundaÇão Oswaldo Cruz/BR
/
Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis/BR
/
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/BR
/
University of Central Arkansas/US
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