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

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Carlos El Esbérard²  Fernanda Martins-hatano²  Emerson B Bittencourt¹  David Ep Bossi¹  Angélica Fontes²  Marcela Lareschi¹  Vanderlaine Menezes²  Helena G Bergallo²  Donald Gettinger¹ 

[1] ,Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro Ibrag Departamento de EcologiaRio de Janeiro RJ ,Brasil

关键词: ectoparasites;    host-specificity;    experiments;    small mammals;    neotropics;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0074-02762005000700015

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Host-choice experiments were carried out with rodent and bat ectoparasites on Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, 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. These kinds of simple experiments can be valuable tools 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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