A method for testing the host specificity of ectoparasites: give them the opportunity to choose.

ESBERARD CARLOS; MARTINS-HATANO F; BITTENCOURT E; BOSSI DEP; FONTES A; MARCELA LARESCHI; MENDEZ V; BERGALLO H; GETTINGER D

MEMóRIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ.

FUNDACO OSWALDO CRUZ

Año: 2005 vol. 100 p. 761 - 764

0074-0276

Host-choice experiments were carried out with rodent and bat ectoparasites on Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.  We constructed experimental chambers that enclosed three different rodent or bat host species, and then introduced a selected set of ectoparasitic arthropods.  When given the opportunity to choose among host species, the ectoparasites showed a strong tendency to select their primary hosts, and reject novel host species.  The experiment can be a valuable tool for assessing the ability of ectoparasites to locate and discern differences between host species, and make choices about which hosts to infest, and which hosts to avoid.