Interrelationship between ectoparasites and wild rodents from Tijucas do Sul, State of Paraná, Brazil

RESUMO

Sixteen species of ectoparasites were collected from 50 wild rodents from August 1990 to August 1991, in an area of Araucaria augustifolia forest, in the municility of Tijucas do Sul, State of Paraná, Brazil. Ectoparasites infested 98 per cent of the rodents, with the highest indices of infestation found in the dry-cool season. Species that occurred in single or multiple infestations were recorded. Ectoparasites/host associations were significant (p<0.01) for Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni/Oryzomys nigripes, Polygenis pradoi/Oxymycteurs sp. and Amblyopinus sp./Oxymycteurs sp. The following represent new host records Polygenis (Polygenis) tripus from Akodon serrensis and Hoplopleura sciuricola from Sciurus aestuans. New geographic records are given for two species of flea and one sucking lice.