Volume 49/Number 1/Abstract 08
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Acta Parasitologica, Vol.49, No. 1, 2004, 63-66
Marcela Lareschi(1,2)*, Ricardo Ojeda(2,3) and Pedro M. Linardi(1,4) - Flea parasites of small mammals in the Monte Desert biome in Argentina with new host and locality records
(1)Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, UFMG, Avenida Antonio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil; *Actual address: Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores, Calle 2 No 584, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; (2)CONICET, Argentina; (3)GiB-CONICET, IADIZA, CC 507, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina; (4)CNPq, Brasil
*Corresponding author: mlareschi@yahoo.com.ar
ABSTRACT

Fleas associated with small mammals from the Argentinean Monte Desert, were examined. The research was carried out in Nacunan Biosphere Reserve (34°02'S, 67°58'W), in the Chaquena Biogeographic Subregion of the Neotropical Region. Mammal species trapped were as follows: Rodentia, Muridae, Sigmodontinae: Akodon molinae Contreras, 1968 (N = 44), Graomys griseoflavus (Waterhouse, 1837) (N = 15), Calomys musculinus (Thomas, 1913) (N = 12), and Eligmodontia typus F. Cuvier, 1837 (N = 7); Didelphiomorphia, Didelphidae, Mamorsinae: Thylamys pusillus (Desmarest, 1804) (N = 1). A total of 236 fleas were collected: Stephanocircidae, Craneopsyllinae: Craneopsylla minerva wolffhuegeli (Rothschild, 1909); Rhopalopsyllidae, Rhopalopsyllinae: Polygenis (Polygenis) bohlsi bohlsi (Wagner, 1901), Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis cisandinus (Jordan, 1939) and Polygenis (Neopolygenis) puelche Del Ponte, 1963; Rhopalopsyllidae, Parapsyllinae: Ectinorus (Ectinorus) barrerai Jordan, 1939. High values of total mean abundance (MA = 2.99) and total prevalence (P = 73.41%) were obtained. A. molinae (MA = 3.14; P = 93.18%; flea specific richness S = 5; Shannon specific diversity index H = 1.25) and G. griseoflavus (MA = 6.40; P = 100%; S = 5; H = 0.76) showed the highest values of the infestation parameters. No fleas were collected from E. typus, possibly because of its habits. Fleas associated with T. pusillus are reported for the first time. Our collections extend the western limits of the distribution of both P. (N.) puelche and P. (P.) b. bohlsi. In addition, new host species are reported for every flea species and subspecies, and seven host-flea associations are mentioned for the first time.


KEY WORDS: Polygenis, Craneopsylla, Ectinorus, Siphonaptera, fleas, Argentinean Monte Desert

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