Insectivores and Rodents) in the Serra Calderona Mountains (Valencian Community, Spain
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Research and Reviews ill Parasitology, 60 (1-2)): 25-35 (2000) Published by A.P.E. © 2000 Asociacion de Parasitologos Espanoles (A.P.E.) Printed in Barcelona, Spain A HELMINTHOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SMALL MAMMALS (INSECTIVORES AND RODENTS) IN THE SERRA CALDERONA MOUNTAINS (VALENCIAN COMMUNITY, SPAIN) M.V. FUENTES, A.M. CEREZUELA & M.T. GALAN·PUCHADES Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles Sill, 46100 Burjassot - Valencia, Spain Received 22 July 1998; accepted 17 February 1999 REfERENCE:FUENTES(M.V.), CEREZUEL(A.M.) & GALAN-PUCHADE(MS.T.), 2000.- A helminthological survey of small mammals (insectivores and rodents) in the Serra Calderona mountains (Valencian Community, Spain). Research and Reviews in Parasitology, 60 (1-2): 25-35. ABSTRACTA: total of 38 helminth species (4 trematodes, 10cestodes and 24 nematodes) were detected in 315 small mammals (the insectivoresAle- lerix algirus and Crocidura russula, and the rodents Eliomys quercinus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus and Rattus rattus) captured over a 4- year period in the Serra Calderona mountains (Valencian Community, Spain). An account is provided of the qualitative composition, prevalences and bioecological characteristics of each parasite community. The Rhode index is applied to determine the parasite specificity of the shared hel- minth populations. The limited resources of the ecosystem investigated and the population characteristics of the hosts studied condition the qualita- tive and quantitative compositions of the helminthfauna. KEYWORDS:Helminths, insectivores, rodents, Serra Calderona, Valencian community, Spain, prevalence, bioecology, specificity. INTRODUCTION Het, 1842)(Erinaceidae) and Crocidura russula Her- mann, 1780 (Soricidae), and of the rodents Eliomys As part of a series of studies on the helminthfauna pa- quercinus (Linnaeus, 1766)(Gliridae), Apodemus sylva- rasitizing mammals in continental and insular Spain, an ticus (Linnaeus, 1758), Mus spretus Lataste, 1883 and annual follow-up is being carried out of the helminth pa- Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Muridae). rasites of insectivores and rodents in a peninsular Medi- terranean ecosystem. Since the year 1994, the helminth- MATERIAL AND METHODS fauna of these small mammals (which constitute fundamental links in the food chain) has been surveyed Characterization of the Serra Calderona: The Serra Calderona on an annual basis (GALAN-PUCHADES et aI., 1996; GA- forms part of the easternmost region of the Spanish Iberian System LAN-PUCHADES & FuENTES, 1996; CEREZUELA, FuEN- in its descent to the Mediterranean. It occupies part of the provin- TES & GALAN-PUCHADES, 1997a, b; FuENTES, CERE- ces of Valencia and Castellon, with a total surface of approxima- tely 52000 Ha (Fig. 1). This mountain range follows the general ZUELA & GALAN-PUCHADES, 1997). NW-SE orientation of the system, with a mean altitude of under The present paper reports the qualitative and quantita- 500 m. tive helminthological results (prevalences) obtained after The geological materials that surface in this territory correspond four years of study.Data are provided on the helminth to three major lithostratigraphic units: a) Paleozoic, only present at parasites of the insectivores Atelerix algirus (Lerebou- points; b) Mesozoic, with good representations from the Triassic Valencian Community ""-... ..'-",.- {". .•..•.•....•.•. q Balearic Islands I lOkm I A 1100kmlB c Fig. 1.- Geographical location of the Serra Calderona (Valencian Community, Spain). 26 M.V. FuENTES, A.M. CEREZUELA& M.T. GALAN-PUCHADES (sand, clay, loam and dolomite), particularly in the easternmost zo- traps are left in place for 48 hours and are checked in the morning. nes, and Jurassic (limestone and dolomite) in the Western areas; c) The captured animals are species identified and weighed; sexual Cenozoic, likewise almost exclusively limited to the septentrional activity is determined and the animals are then marked and relea- zones. sed at the place of capture to record data on host population sizes. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with irregular rainfall The parasitological study is in turn based on those animals that die and intense summer droughts. The eastern and meridional regions during capture. In the event that no such deaths occur, no more correspond to the Therrnomediterranean bioclimatic setting, and than 10% of the captured specimens are sacrificed. With the aim of the ombroclimate is dry. In contrast, the western most and septen- securing more helminthological data, this seasonal method is com- trional regions are included in the Mesomediterranean bioclimate, bined with the performance of numerous specific prospections in with slightly greater rainfall but without fully qualifying as a sub- the course of the year using the line-up method. The animals obtai- humid ombroclimate. Hydrologically, there are no regular water ned in these random prospections are destined exclusively for pa- courses but numerous springs that may dry out in the summer rasitological study. months, and ravines with typical flash-flood features. Corologically, the vegetation corresponds to the western Medi- Parasitological procedures: For the extraction of helminths and terranean subregion (COSTA, 1982, 1986; COSTA et al. 1985; after collecting the data on each host individual (species identifi- CRESPOVILLABA,1989; GARCIA-FAYOS,199I). The climax vege- cation, determination of sexual status, weighing and morpho- tation is represented by four associations, fundamentally Rubio metry), routine procedures were used as to dissection and the longifoliae-Quercetuni rotundifoliae Costa et al., 1982 (littoral study of all organs.In searching for specific parasite species in the holmoak) and Asplenio onopteridis-Quercetum suberis Costa et cases of E. quercinus, A. algirus and R. rattus, a specific study al., 1985 I Rubio-Quercetum rotundifoliae-Quercetosum suberis was conducted of the nasal and frontal sinuses, these being habi- Garcia-Fayos, unpublished (continental corkoak), and point repre- tual parasitation microhabitats in these hosts for the digenean sentations of Bupleuro rigidi-Quercetum rotundifoliae Br.-Bl. et Dollfusinus frontalis Biocca et Ferretti, 1958. Likewise, the O. de Boles, 1957 and Hedero helicis-Quercetum rotundifoliae diaphragm of all host specimens was investigated for the possible Costa et al., 1985 (continental holmoak) and Violo willkommii- presence of trichina larvae. Quercetumfagineae Br.-Bl. et O. de Bolos, 1950 (gall-oaks). As a The helminths detected were studied using usual helmintholo- consequence of the continuous degradation due both to anthropo- gical techniques. Trematodes were fixed in Bouin's solution, nization (crops, charcoal production, grazing and urbanization) then stained for 24 hours with Grenacher's boracic carmine. Ces- and numerous fires, the potential vegetation has been largely res- todes were fixed in 70% hot ethanol, followed by alcoholic eh- tricted by the different substitution stages, principally littoral ker- lorhydric carmine staining for 24 hours. Posteriorly, these mesoak (Quercus cocciferae-Pistacietum lentisci Br.-Bl. et al., plathyhelminths were differentiated with acidified alcohol, dehy- 1935) and continental kermesoak (Rhamno lycioidis-Quercetum drated in an alcohol series, cleared with xylene and mounted in cocciferae Br.-Bl. et O. de Boles, 1957), along with different bus- Canada balsam between slide and coverslip. Nematodes were in hes and pastures. In addition, it may be pointed out that due to its turn fixed in 70% ethanol and posteriorly studied by direct exa- peculiar location, the Serra Calderona is a transition zone between mination between slide and coverslip with clearing fluid (e.g., corological sectors, the flora being one of its main values due to lactophenol). the appearance of a number of endemisms. All helminths were specifically identified based on their mor- Faunistically, emphasis may be placed on the presence of im- phology and morphometry, and employing the most relevant lite- portant populations of species, in terms of both numbers and va- rature on each of the species involved. A number of specimens riety. Among the invertebrates, a number of both Iberian and Va- could not be specifically classified, due to limited development lencian endemisms have been reported (DOCAVOet al., 1987). As within the host (as in some anoplocephalid cestodes), the detection to the vertebrates, the herpetofauna and avian species are well re- of larval stages or immature nematode adults, or because of the ab- presented, based on the geographic location and state of degrada- sence of some organ decisive for systematic classification (e.g., tion that characterize the region. In this sense, a number of birds of loss of the scolex in hymenolepidid cestodes). prey are to be found (MURGUI,1997), including eagles (Hieraetus fasciatus, Circaetus gallicus), and the large owl, Bubo bubo. Large Helminth study: In each host population records were made of the and medium-sized mammals include boars (Sus scrofa), badger corresponding parasite prevalences. The term «prevalence» fo- (Meles meles), fox (Vulpes vulpes), weasel (Mustela nivalis), llows the definition of MARGOLlSet al. (1982). In this context, a mountain cat (Felis sylvestrisy, and genet (Genetta genetta). Also distinction is made between «component» species (preva- present are the hare (Lepus capensis) and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuni- lence ~ 10%) and «rare» species (prevalence < 10%)(BUSH,AHO culus). As to