Prevalence and intensity of fleas parasitizing an isolated population of screaming hairy armadillo in Buenos Aires province, Argentina: host-related factors and temporal dynamics

EZQUIAGA M CECILIA; ABBA AGUSTIN; CASSINI GH; LARESCHI MARCELA

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2017 vol. 116 p. 2895 - 2900

0932-0113

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of an isolated population ofChaetophractus vellerosus (Mammalia: Xenarthra) fromMagdalena (Buenos Aires province) were studied, and theirpresence was associated with host-related factors (age, sex,weight, size, and physical condition) and temporal dynamics(seasonality and year). Three species of fleas were identified:Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis (Rhopalopsyllidae), Tungapenetrans (Tungidae), and Pulex irritans (Pulicidae).Prevalences were significant for year, season, and physicalcondition. Intensities were significantly different for year,physical condition, and weight. The intensities of fleas werehigher in 2009 than in other years, probably because of lowerrainfall than the annual average leading to extremely dry climaticconditions in 2008. Intensities decreased in individualswith major body weight and increased in individuals withpoor physical condition. In this study, the dynamics of the fleacommunity associated with an armadillo population is analyzedfor the first time taking into account host-related factorsand temporal dynamics, and also how these factors influencethe community.