The relationship of sex and ectoparasite infestation in the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in La Plata, Argentina
Rev. biol. trop
;
54(2): 673-679, jun. 2006. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-492035
ABSTRACT
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.
RESUMEN
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.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Arthropod Vectors
/
Rodent Diseases
/
Disease Reservoirs
/
Arvicolinae
/
Ectoparasitic Infestations
/
Host-Parasite Interactions
Type of study:
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Argentina
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. biol. trop
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Tropical Medicine
Year:
2006
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina
Institution/Affiliation country:
CONICET/AR
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