Effect of host age, sex, and life stage on the prevalence and abundance of sucking lice on Weddell seal in the Antarctic Peninsula

SOTO, F. A.; NEGRETE, J.; KLAICH, M. J.; LEONARDI, M. S.

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2022

0001-3765

Through evolutionary time, seal lice have developed morphological, behavioral, and cological adaptations to cope with the amphibious lifestyle of their hosts in a co-evolutionary process. Consequently, the dynamics of lice populations are determined by seals behavior. We aim to study the effects of host sex, age class, year, and sampling location, on the prevalence and mean abundance of Antarctophthirus carlinii, on Weddell seals (WS) Leptonychotes wedelli. The study was conducted at two sites in the Antarctic Peninsula, namely, Marambio/Seymour Island (MI) and the Danco Coast (DC). We collected lice from 71 WS: 33 from MI, during the reproductive season, and 38 from DC, during the molting season of four consecutive years (2014-2017). According to ouranalyses, host age class and sex were the variables that affected prevalence levels of A. carlinii on WS. Whereas, age class, year, site, and sex affected lice mean abundance. Juveniles presented higher prevalence and mean abundance than adults, possibly acting as reservoirs for lice as they move through different colonies until they reach reproductive age. Concurrently, seals during molting season were more infested than during the reproductive season. Unlike nursing, during the molting season seals spend much time ashore forming mixed groups that favor both egg development and lice transmission.