Does Sarcoptes scabiei synchronize its breeding cycle with that of the Iberian Ibex, Capra pyrenaica?
We have analysed five samples from the skin of 368 Iberian ibexes from Sierra Nevada Natural Space (southern Spain) in order to characterize the age structure of the Sarcoptes scabiei metapopulation affecting this host population and, particularly, to search for possible reproductive peaks of the pa...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión aceptada para publicación |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2017 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/155931 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/155931 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Host-parasite relationships Breeding cycle Capra pyrenaica Sarcoptes scabiei Synchronization |
| Sumario: | We have analysed five samples from the skin of 368 Iberian ibexes from Sierra Nevada Natural Space (southern Spain) in order to characterize the age structure of the Sarcoptes scabiei metapopulation affecting this host population and, particularly, to search for possible reproductive peaks of the parasite. Monthly mean mite density and number of larvae peaked in November, coinciding with the rutting season of its host, when the size of ibex mixed groups becomes larger. On the other hand, monthly number of nymphs differed significantly, reaching higher values in May (coinciding with the peak of parturitions), August and November. Our results suggest that (i) there is some extent of synchronization between the breeding cycles of both the host and the parasite and (ii) nymphs could play an important role in the mite transmission to offspring. We discuss the potential role of sexual hormones in such increase of larvae and therefore in mite numbers. |
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