Ectoparasites of Propithecus diadema (Primates: Indriidae) With Notes on Unusual Attachment Site Selection by Haemaphysalis lemuris (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae).
An examination of ectoparasite loads in two populations of wild diademed sifakas, Propithecus diadema Bennett, yielded seven species-four mite species, a louse, a hippoboscid fly, and a leech. Prevalence of the tick Haemaphysalis lemuris Hoogstraal, the mites Liponyssella madagascariensis (Hirst) and Lemuralges propithecus Bochkov et al., and the louse Trichophilopterus babakotophilus Stobbe was quite high, at least 20%. H. lemuris was the most common ectoparasite in one population, while completely absent in a second one. When present, the most common attachment site for H. lemuris males was in the nares of their hosts.
Acarology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212. klompen.1@osu.edu.
Hans
H
Klompen
Department of Animal Health, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus, OH 43065.
Randall E
RE
Junge
Duke Lemur Center, Duke University, Durham NC 27705.
Cathy V
CV
Williams
D000053:Acari / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D007865:Leeches / Q000502:physiology*; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011443:Strepsirhini
Lemuroidea; attachment site; ectoparasite