Host‑parasite association between Didelphis albiventris (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) and Ixodes loricatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in their southern ranges

TARRAGONA, EVELINA L.; MASTROPAOLO MARIANO; ZURVERA DANIEL;; BELDOMENICO, PABLO M.; GUGLIELMONE ALBERTO A.

EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2018

0168-8162

The parasitism of Ixodes loricatus Neumann on white-eared opposum, Didelphisalbiventris Lund, was analysed in the southern ranges of both. In central Argentina,118 wild opossums were captured from 2005 to 2012. Adults of I. loricatus were collected(prevalence = 66.1%, mean = 7.03, median = 4), but no immature stage. Tick infestation wasnot affected by sex (p = 0.27) or age (p = 0.37) of hosts. In line with previous studies aboutseasonality of larvae and nymphs of I. loricatus, adult tick infestation showed no seasonaltrend. This lack of seasonal pattern of infestation for all parasitic stages of I. loricatus mayindicate a life cycle governed by nidicolous behaviour, in such a way that this habit wouldcontribute to minimize the influence of external environmental variables. The tick sex ratiowas female biased, with two females per one male (p = 0.002). The absence of I. loricatusimmatures on D. albiventris suggests that in the study region there is clear segregation ofimmatures in rodents and adults in marsupials.