背景:跳蚤是重要的吸血昆虫,遍布全球的哺乳动物和鸟类。据报道,全世界各种食肉动物都有具有医学重要性的跳蚤,比如Felids,犬科动物,或者芥末。罗马尼亚拥有广泛的食肉动物多样性,但是对罗马尼亚寄生这些动物的跳蚤物种知之甚少。这项研究旨在更好地了解跳蚤的多样性及其在罗马尼亚相对大量和多样化的野生食肉动物宿主中的分布。
方法:从2013年到2021年,收集了来自罗马尼亚不同地点的282具野生食肉动物尸体,并检查了外寄生虫的存在。使用特定的键和描述在形态上识别所有收集的跳蚤。对共现网络进行了分析。
结果:共鉴定出11种跳蚤:Pulexirritans(41.09%),Paracerasmelis(20.11%),Ctenocephalidesfelis(7.33%),犬齿蛇(7.83%),单音节(11.11%),毛节虫(21.96%),同音节(5.5%),Chaetopsylna结核性(100%),Chaetopsyllarothschildi(13.33%),Chaetopsyllasp.(14.34%),毛囊球(5.12%),大黄(10%)。统计分析显示,Martesfoina的感染之间存在显着差异,女性的感染频率高于男性(66%对33%)。Paracerasmeles侵染Meles的雌性gr患病率明显高于雄性(×2=7.7977,P<0.01),而雄性侵染强度高于雌性(t=1.871,P<0.05)。
结论:这是第一项大规模研究,调查了罗马尼亚野生食肉动物的跳蚤物种的分布和多样性。在罗马尼亚首次发现了三种跳蚤(E.五倍子,C.同居,和结核杆菌)。
BACKGROUND: Fleas are important hematophagous insects, infesting mammals and birds with a worldwide distribution. Fleas of medical importance have been reported from various carnivores worldwide, such as felids, canids, or mustelids. Romania hosts a wide carnivore diversity, but very little is known about flea species that parasitize these animals in Romania. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the fleas\' diversity and their distribution in a relatively large and diverse number of wild carnivore hosts from Romania.
METHODS: From 2013 to 2021, 282 carcasses of wild carnivores from different locations in Romania were collected and examined for the presence of ectoparasites. All collected fleas were morphologically identified using specific keys and descriptions. An analysis of the co-occurrence networks was performed.
RESULTS: A total of 11 flea species were identified: Pulex irritans (41.09%), Paraceras melis (20.11%), Ctenocephalides felis (7.33%), Ctenocephalides canis (7.83%), Monopsyllus sciurorum (11.11%), Chaetopsylla trichosa (21.96%), Chaetopsylla homoea (5.5%), Chaetopsylla tuberculaticeps (100%), Chaetopsylla rothschildi (13.33%), Chaetopsylla sp. (14.34%), Chaetopsylla globiceps (5.12%), Echidnophaga gallinacea (10%). The statistical analyses showed a significant difference between the infestation of Martes foina with females being more frequently infected than males (66% versus 33%). Paraceras melis infesting Meles meles had a significantly higher prevalence in female badgers than in males (× 2 = 7.7977, P < 0.01) and higher intensities of infestations in males than in females (t = 1.871, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study investigating the distribution and diversity of flea species infesting wild carnivores in Romania. Three flea species were identified for the first time in Romania (E. gallinacea, C. homoea, and C. tuberculaticeps).