clove and Ectoparasitic-Infestations

The Hippoboscidae or "louse-flies" is a family of pupiparous Diptera, which in their adult stage are ectoparasites of mammals and birds. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Malagasy Hippoboscidae. In total, amongst the 213 species of this family known worldwide, 14 have been reported in Madagascar, among which six are considered as endemic to the Malagasy region. In addition, data are presented from a collection of 17 Hippoboscidae obtained from seven species of forest-dwelling birds in the "Parc National de Midongy Befotaka", southeastern Madagascar, in 2003. The flies in this collection belong to three different species: Icosta malagasii (one), Ornithoica podicipis (ten) and Ornithoctona laticomis (six). The two former species were previously only known from single specimens in museum collections; the later species is distributed across much of the Afrotropical region and the records presented herein are the first for Madagascar. All the seven bird species are new hosts for hippoboscids. We present the first description of the male of Icosta malagasii. An illustrated dichotomous determination key of the 14 Malagasy species, based on morphological criteria only, is presented.

Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Diptera; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Female; Madagascar; Male; Mammals; Wings, Animal

Bed bugs are hematophagous insects with a long history of presence in human communities. Over the last three decades, infestations by bed bugs in human dwellings have drastically increased, leading to a rise in bed bug concerns. This study was conducted in May 2019 in the Miarinarivo district of Madagascar. Eight locations with suspected infestations were inspected. Of these, five locations were found with active bed bug infestations. Overall, 23 (19 adults and four nymphs) specimens with numbers per apartment ranging from 2 to 6 were collected and analyzed using morphological and molecular approaches. Of 19 adults collected, 18 were morphologically identified as Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), with the final adult identified as C. lectularius. Morphological identification of adults was confirmed by sequencing 450 bp fragment of COI gene. All four nymphs were also identified molecularly as C. hemipterus. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of COI gene and sequence alignment of C. hemipterus specimens revealed the presence of two groups (first group clustered with previously reported haplotype from Asian and African countries and the second group encompassed a lesser known haplotype exclusively from Africa (Kenya and Senegal). This study presents low genetic diversity among C. hemipterus specimens and, for the first time, reports the occurrence of C. lectularius, known as temperate species, in Madagascar. These results can be helpful in control management strategies against these ectoparasites in this country.

Topics: Animals; Bedbugs; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Kenya; Madagascar; Nymph; Phylogeny

Eight species of ectoparasites were collected during 225 gray mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus (J. F. Miller), captures, in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar, in 2010-2011. The ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis lemuris Hoogstraal, was the most common ectoparasite and was mostly represented by nymphs. Other ectoparasites recorded include the polyplacid sucking louse, Lemurpediculus madagascariensis Durden, Kessler, Radespiel, Zimmermann, Hasiniaina, and Zohdy; the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis simplex Neumann; an undescribed laelapid mite in the genus Aetholaelaps; another laelapid belonging to the genus Androlaelaps; the chigger mite Schoutedenichia microcebi Stekolnikov; an undescribed species of atopomelid mite in the genus Listrophoroides; and an undescribed species of psoroptid mite in the genus Cheirogalalges. Except for the 2 species of ticks and 1 species of chigger, these ectoparasites may be host-specific to M. murinus. Total tick (H. lemuris and H. simplex) infestation was significantly greater in August than October, whereas louse (L. madagascariensis) infestation was significantly greater in October. There was no significant difference in tick infestations between male and female lemurs, but male lemurs had significantly more lice than female lemurs. Reproductive status was not a significant predictor of tick infestation in males and females.

Topics: Animals; Cheirogaleidae; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Female; Madagascar; Male; Poisson Distribution; Prevalence; Primate Diseases; Seasons; Sex Factors

Habitat loss and fragmentation drive the worldwide depletion of biodiversity. Although it is known that anthropogenic disturbances severely affect host and ecosystem integrity, effects on parasites are largely understudied. This study aims to investigate if and how habitat fragmentation affects the composition of ectoparasite communities on small mammalian hosts in two networks of dry deciduous forest fragments in northwestern Madagascar. Forest sites differing in size, proportion of edge habitat and host density were studied in the Ankarafantsika National Park and in the Mariarano region. A total of 924 individuals of two mouse lemur species, Microcebus murinus (n = 200) and Microcebus ravelobensis (n = 426), and two rodent species, endemic Eliurus myoxinus (n = 114) and introduced Rattus rattus (n = 184), were captured to assess ectoparasite infestations. Ectoparasite prevalence and ectoparasite species richness were statistically related to nine ecological variables applying generalized linear mixed models. Hosts harbored ticks (Haemaphysalis microcebi), mites (Schoutedenichia microcebi, Listrophoroides spp., Laelaptidae gen. spp.) and sucking lice (Lemurpediculus spp., Polyplax sp., Hoplopleuridae gen. sp.). Parasite prevalence differed significantly between host species for all detected parasite taxa. Proximity to the forest edge led to a significant reduction in ectoparasites. Parasite-specific edge effects were observed up to a distance of 750 m from the forest edge. The obtained results imply that habitat fragmentation impacts ectoparasite communities, in particular by negatively affecting temporary parasite species. The results are best explained by an interplay of parasite life cycles, responses to changes in abiotic factors induced by edges and host-specific responses to habitat fragmentation. The negative responses of most studied ectoparasite taxa to forest edges and habitat fragmentation demonstrate their ecological vulnerability that may eventually threaten the integrity of ecosystems and potentially impact ectoparasite biodiversity worldwide.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Biodiversity; Cheirogaleidae; Ecological Parameter Monitoring; Ecosystem; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Forests; Host Specificity; Life Cycle Stages; Madagascar; Mites; Phthiraptera; Prevalence; Rodentia; Ticks

Human encroachment of natural habitats bears the threat of disease transmission between native and introduced species that had not come into contact before, thus promoting the spread of new diseases in both directions. This is a matter of concern especially in areas where human-wildlife contact has not been intense in the recent past. In southwest Madagascar, we collected ectoparasites from various mammalian hosts and chicken, and examined their host preferences and their prevalence in relation to season and habitat degradation. Field-work took place in the northern portion of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park and the adjacent coastal strip (littoral) in the dry and in the rainy season of 2016/2017. Endemic mammals were trapped with live traps placed in habitats of different degrees of degradation: 1) relatively pristine forest, 2) degraded forest, 3) cultivated and shrub land. Rats and mice were also trapped in 4) villages. We identified 17 species of ectoparasites (296 individuals of ticks [5 species], 535 lice [7 spp.], 389 fleas [4 spp.] and 13 mites [1 sp.]) collected from 15 host species. There was no indication for seasonal or habitat effects on parasite infection. A large portion of the parasites was host-specific. Some ectoparasite species were shared either by several endemic or by several introduced species, but apart from the introduced flea species Echidnophaga gallinacea (collected from six different hosts including the endemic carnivore Galidictis grandidieri) no other ectoparasite species was shared between endemic and introduced host species.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Arthropods; Ecosystem; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Introduced Species; Madagascar; Seasons

An examination of ectoparasite loads in two populations of wild diademed sifakas, Propithecus diadema Bennett, yielded seven species-four mite species, a louse, a hippoboscid fly, and a leech. Prevalence of the tick Haemaphysalis lemuris Hoogstraal, the mites Liponyssella madagascariensis (Hirst) and Lemuralges propithecus Bochkov et al., and the louse Trichophilopterus babakotophilus Stobbe was quite high, at least 20%. H. lemuris was the most common ectoparasite in one population, while completely absent in a second one. When present, the most common attachment site for H. lemuris males was in the nares of their hosts.

Topics: Acari; Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Host-Parasite Interactions; Insecta; Leeches; Madagascar; Prevalence; Strepsirhini

Five new species of the malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938, are described. Paractenopsyllus rouxi, P. ratovonjatoi, P. duplantieri, P. juliamarinus and P. gemelli have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. Biotopes are mid-elevation rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already known provide taxonomic links within the genus. Differences in the spatial and altitudinal distributions and host ranges allow discussion of the potential factors important in the species distribution of this genus.

Topics: Altitude; Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Eulipotyphla; Female; Host-Parasite Interactions; Madagascar; Male; Muridae; Phylogeny; Population Surveillance; Rats; Rodent Diseases; Siphonaptera; Species Specificity

The males of three new and rare species of the Malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938 are described. Paractenopsyllus beaucournui, P. oconnori and P. raxworthyi have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. As for others species of the genus, biotopes are rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Two of the described species were collected at elevations lower than typical for the genus and below the limits of the highland bioclimatic zone. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already described provide taxonomic framework for the genus. An updated identification key is provided for the diagnosis of all the 20 Malagasy species of Leptopsyllinae.

Topics: Altitude; Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Eulipotyphla; Female; Madagascar; Male; Mice; Muridae; Phylogeny; Rats; Rodent Diseases; Rodentia; Siphonaptera; Species Specificity

Following considerable sampling in Malagasy forests, two new species of endemic fleas from Madagascar are described. These are T. rodhaini n. sp. and P. goodmani n. sp., collected on small mammals. The material of T. rodhaini allows us to describe the previously unknown female of the genus Tsaractenus. We also complete the initial description of the genus with new diagnostic characters. Although it belongs to Paractenopsyllus, P. goodmani shows many unique characteristics. To help resolve certain systematic issues involving Malagasy Leptopsyllinae we introduce the new subgenus Consobrinopsyllus of Paractenopsyllus for P. goodmani. Its particular condition makes us consider valuable characters of the genus Tsaractenus. Carrying several traits of this genus, P. goodmani could constitute an intermediate step between the two endemic Malagasy leptopsylline genera. Considering these new findings the actual taxonomic position of the Malagasy genera among the Leptopsyllinae is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Female; Madagascar; Male; Muridae; Phylogeny; Rodent Diseases; Shrews; Siphonaptera