Article available at http://www.parasite-journal.org or http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2011183251 PREVALENCE OF ECTOPARASITIC ARTHROPODS ON WILD ANIMALS AND CATTLE IN THE LAS MERINDADES AREA (BURGOS, SPAIN) DOMÍNGUEZ-PEÑAFIEL G.*, GIMÉNEZ-PARDO C.**, GEGÚNDEZ M.I.** & LLEDÓ L.** Summary: Résumé : PRÉVALENCE DES ARTHROPODES ECTOPARASITES SUR LES ANIMAUX SAUVAGES ET LE BÉTAIL DANS LA RÉGION DE LAS MERINDADES This paper reports the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods in (BURGOS, ESPAGNE) sampled groups of wild (n = 128; 16 species) and domestic (n = 69; 3 species) animals in the Las Merindades area of the Province Cet article présente la prévalence des arthropodes ectoparasites of Burgos, Spain. The study revealed that wild animals were more dans des échantillons d’animaux sauvages (n = 128 ; 16 espèces) et infested and with a wider variety of ectoparasites than domestic domestiques (n = 69 ; 3 espèces) dans la région de Las Merindades animals. The parasitic prevalence was 67 % for wild animals and de la province de Burgos, en Espagne. L’étude a révélé que les 48 % for livestock. In this way, 39 % of animals were infected by mammifères sauvages ont été plus infestés et ont été touchés ticks. Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus were the most prevalent par une plus grande variété d’ectoparasites que les animaux species whereas Dermacentor reticulatus showed affinity for the domestiques. La prévalence parasitaire a été de 67 % pour les fox and wolf. The overall prevalence of parasitisation by fleas was animaux sauvages et 48 % pour le bétail. Ainsi, 39 % de tous les 27 %. Ctenophthalmus spp. showed the wider range host in wild animaux ont été infectés par les tiques. Ixodes ricinus et Ixodes animals, while Pulex irritans was the most frequent specie found. hexagonus ont été les espèces les plus répandues, alors que The parasitic prevalences by lice (Trichodectes melis, Trichodectes Dermacentor reticulatus a montré une affinité pour le renard et le canis and Trichodectes mustelae) and by mite (Neotrombicula loup. La prévalence globale du parasitisme par les puces a été de spp., Laelaps agilis and Sarcoptes scabiei) were 4 % and 12 %, 27 %. Ctenophtalmus spp a montré la plus large gamme d’hôtes respectively. In both cases only wild animals were found parasited. chez les animaux sauvages, tandis que Pulex irritans a été l’espèce la plus fréquemment trouvée. Les prévalences parasitaires par les poux KEY WORDS: ectoparasites, wild animals, domestic animals, epidemiology, (Trichodectes melis, Trichodectes canis et Trichodectes mustelae) Spain. et par les acariens (Neotrombicula spp., Laelaps agilis et Sarcoptes scabiei) ont été de 4 % et 12 %, respectivement. Dans les deux cas, seuls les animaux sauvages ont été trouvés parasités. MOTS-CLÉS : ectoparasites, animaux sauvages, animaux domestiques, épidémiologie, Espagne. INTRODUCTION Few studies have been undertaken in Spain that has jointly examined the ectoparasites that affect both ild animals and arthropods play important domestic and wild animals. However, the investiga- roles as zoonotic pathogens reservoirs tions and cataloguing work of Encinas (1986), Domín- and/or vectors for humans and domestic guez (2004) and Millán et al. (2007), among others, W have made important contributions to our knowledge animals (Morse, 1995). In the same way, arthropods can transmit a variety of pathogens, such as rickettsias, of the arthropod ectoparasites of Spain. Even so, the borrelias, parasitic hemoprotozoa and certain viruses, information available on these organisms, their hosts, that cause human diseases and serious infections in and the parasitic prevalence is incomplete. livestock. In addition, the behaviour of ectoparasites The aim of the present work is to contribute to the also may cause direct and indirect harm such as irri- knowledge of the distribution of arthropod ectopara- tation, skin inflammation, pruritus, self-wounding, dis- sites in the Las Merindades area, in the Province of turbance and allergic responses (Wall & Shearer, 2001). Burgos, Spain, which lies in the zone of transition between the Cordillera Cantábrica and Sistema Ibé- * Consejería de Sanidad y Bienestar Social de la Junta de Castilla rico mountain ranges. The area represents an enclave y León, Spain. ** Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de of varied ecosystems (Román et al., 1996) home to Alcalá, Spain. arthropod ectoparasites that could transmit cross Correspondence: Consuelo Giménez-Pardo, Departamento de Micro- diseases to the human, domestic and wild animal biología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, populations (Bengis et al., 2004). This work is part of Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Tel.: 34 91 885 46 36 – Fax: 34 91 885 46 60. a wider project to improve our knowledge of ectopa- E-mail: [email protected] rasites inhabiting Spain. Parasite, 2011, 18, 251-260 Original contribution 251 DOMÍNGUEZ-PEÑAFIEL G., GIMÉNEZ-PARDO C., GEGÚNDEZ M.I. & LLEDÓ L.. MATERIALS AND METHODS ANIMAL SAMPLES 197 animals (69 specimens of the three more abundant STUDY AREA livestock species and 128 wild animals included into he study was performed in the Las Merindades 16 species) were examined for arthropod ectopara- area in the Province of Burgos, Spain (42o 55’ sites. Table I shows the composition of these two T52’’ N, 3o 29’ 2’’ W). Mean summer temperatures groups. Not treated livestock came from 20 extensive in this area range between 16 and 20 °C, while mean or semi-extensive farming systems in the study area winter temperatures range between 2 and 5 °C. Rainfall and were examined during 2007. Wild animals were is usually high in winter at some 900-1,100 mm/year. obtained in different periods and by three methods The area is mainly rural, but recreational activities depending on the species. Small mammals were attracting non-residents have increased in recent years. monthly live-trapped and sacrified later, from 2006 to Ticks Fleas Lice+ Mites Animals parasitised Animals examined (N°) n % n % n % n % n % Domestic Cow (35) 12 34 12 34 animals Sheep (26) 7 27 15 58 20 77 Horses (8) 1 13 1 13 Total domestic animals (69) 20 29 15 22 33 48 Wild Roe deer (12) 7 58 7** 58 animals (Capreolus capreolus) Fox (18) 15 83 13 72 6 33S 17 94 (Vulpes vulpes) Wolf (3) 3 100 2 67 1 33 2 67S 3 100 (Canis lupus) American mink (25) 10 40 10 40 (Neovison vison) Badger (7) 1 14 4 57 6 86 6 86 (Meles meles) Beech marten (4) 2 50 3 75 4 100 (Martes foina) Pine marten (3) 2 67 1 33 2 67 (Martes martes) Polecat (2) 1 50 2 100 1 50*M 2 100 (Mustela putorius) Stoat(2) 2 100 1 50 1 50*T 2 100 (Mustela erminea) Genet (1) 1 100 1 100 1 100 (Genetta genetta) Wood mouse (26) 11 42 2 8 5 19*T 15 58 (Apodemus sylvaticus) Yellow-necked mouse (8) 1 12 3 37*T 4 50 (Apodemus flavicollis) Bank vole (6) 2 33 3 50 6 100T 6 100 (Clethrionomys glareolus) Red squirrel (5) 1 20 2 40 3 60 (Sciurus vulgaris) Water vole (3) 1 33 1 33 (Arvicola terrestris) Iberian mole (3) 3 100 3 100 (Talpa occidentalis) Total wild animals (128) 57 45 39 30 8 6 24 19 86 67 Total examined animals (197) 77 39 54 27 8 4 24 12 119 60 N°: number of animals examined; n: number parasitised in each category; %: prevalence, expressed as a percentage. +: Mallophaga; T: mites Trombiculidae; *: mites Mesostigmata; **: on sample also with Hippobosca equina (Diptera); S: sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in all specimens infested with mites; M: Myobiidae. Table I. – Ectoparasitic arthropods in wild and domestic animals’ prevalence. Parasite, 2011, 18, 251-260 252 Original contribution ECTOPARASITES FROM WILD AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 2008, except for winter months. Cinegetic species were ectoparasites. Table I shows the hosts of arthropod kindly provided by hunters, during hunting season, species. Ticks and fleas were found on 45 % (CI 95 % between 2005 and 2008. All mustelids and squirrels, [36-54 %]) and 30 % (CI 95 % [22-38 %]) of the wild and other carnivores, found dead (road kill) during animals, respectively, compared to 29 % (CI 95 % [18- this same period, were included in the study. The 40 %]) and 22 % (CI 95 % [12-32 %]) of the domestic. sampled animals were combed and examined under Table II (a, b) shows the species of each group of magnifying glass, and large animals were explored the arthropods parasiting on the different hosts. entire body surface to recovered ticks, fleas, lice and A total of 203 ticks belonging to seven species were mites, which were stored in 70 % ethanol in sterile collected (Table II a) on 77 samples belonging to the tubes. Identifications were made on the basis of mor- three domestic species examined and 13 of the wild phometric characteristics using the keys of Beaucornu animals. The most prevalent with a wide range of & Launay (1990) (fleas), Estrada-Peña (2004) (ticks), hosts was Ixodes ricinus, which was found on 39 ani- Martín-Mateo (1977) (louses) and finally Baker et al. mals of ten host species (ungulates, rodents and car- (1956) and Baker (1999) (mites). nivores). Ixodes hexagonus was found on 23 samples belonging to six hosts, all wild carnivores, except for the wolf and genet. Besides, it was the tick that shows RESULTS the most parasitic intensity on fox, with 51 ticks per animal. Haemaphysalis punctata, the third most pre- he study revealed that 119/197 (60 %) of the valent tick, was found mainly on livestock, meanwhile animals, 86/128 (67 %, CI 95 % [59-75 %]) Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes trianguliceps were Tof wild animals and 33/69 (48 %, CI 95 % only present on wild canids (fox and wolf) and wild [35-60 %]) of domestic animals, were infested with rodents (wood mouse and bank vole), respectively.