Arthropods parasitizing the exotic Red Bellied Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas, 1776) in Argentina

ANA CECILIA GOZZI; V BENITEZ; M L GUICHON; LARESCHI MARCELA

Mendoza

Congreso; IMC10, X Internatonal Congress of Mammals; 2009

Parasitology of exotic species provides relevant data to understand the success of many invasive species and to inform management plans for those that carry pathogens and constitute a health risk. Callosciurus erythraeus is native to Southeast Asia and was introduced into Argentina for ornamental purposes in 1970. Since then, the first wild population of this arboreal rodent has grown in number and extension, and new foci of invasion have appeared within the country. Herein we present preliminary results describing ectoparasites associated with this squirrel in Argentina. Squirrels were live trapped in three sites: Luján (34°33'S, 59°07'W) and Open Door (34º30'S, 59º04'W) in Buenos Aires province, and Cañada de Gomez (32º48'S, 61º23'W) Santa Fé province, between October 2008 and January 2009. Ectoparasites were obtained by brushing their furs, fixed in 96% ethanol and prepared following conventional techniques. We calculated total prevalence (P) and total mean abundance (MA) for each study area: Luján (n=31) P=22%, MA=0,3; Open Door (n=47) P=13%, MA=0,1; Cañada de Gomez (n=28) P=7%, MA=0,1. At present we have identified the mite Androlaelaps fahrenholzi Berlese (Gamasida, Parasitiformes, Laelapidae), the flea Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus Jordan (Siphonaptera, Rhopalopsyllidae), and fly larvaes (Cuterebridae). This is the first record of parasites of exotic squirrels in Argentina. None of these parasites were found in the previous study conducted in Japan, where C. erythraeus was also introduced. Higher P (34%) and MA (0,8) found in Japan might be related to the time elapsed since introduction in each country and to the assemblage of species in the recipient communities resulting in new host-parasite associations. These results are important from an epidemiological point of view because of the possibility of pathogens dissemination given that the attractive pattern of these squirrels makes them valuable animals in the pet market.