Patterns of flea infestation in rodents and insectivores from intensified agro-ecosystems, Northwest Spain

• Published in: Parasites & Vectors
• Main Authors: Silvia Herrero-Cófreces, Manuel Fabio Flechoso, Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor, Juan José Luque-Larena, François Mougeot
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021
• Subjects: Aggregation; Apodemus sylvaticus; Crocidura russula; Ectoparasite; Host sex effects; Microtus arvalis; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04492-6; https://doaj.org/article/e8e49ba928b247bfa150a938e288db8d

Abstract Background Fleas frequently infest small mammals and play important vectoring roles in the epidemiology of (re)emerging zoonotic disease. Rodent outbreaks in intensified agro-ecosystems of North-West Spain have been recently linked to periodic zoonotic diseases spillover to local human populations. Obtaining qualitative and quantitative information about the composition and structure of the whole flea and small mammal host coexisting communities is paramount to understand disease transmission cycles and to elucidate the disease-vectoring role of flea species. The aims of this research were to: (i) characterise and quantify the flea community parasiting a small mammal guild in intensive farmlands in North-West Spain; (ii) determine and evaluate patterns of co-infection and the variables that may influence parasitological parameters. Methods We conducted a large-scale survey stratified by season and habitat of fleas parasitizing the small mammal host guild. We report on the prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance of flea species parasitizing Microtus arvalis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus and Crocidura russula. We also report on aggregation patterns (variance-to-mean ratio and discrepancy index) and co-infection of hosts by different flea species (Fager index) and used generalized linear mixed models to study flea parameter variation according to season, habitat and host sex. Results Three flea species dominated the system: Ctenophthalmus apertus gilcolladoi, Leptopsylla taschenbergi and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. Results showed a high aggregation pattern of fleas in all hosts. All host species in the guild shared C. a. gilcolladoi and N. fasciatus, but L. taschenbergi mainly parasitized mice (M. spretus and A. sylvaticus). We found significant male-biased infestation patterns in mice, seasonal variations in flea abundances for all rodent hosts (M. arvalis, M. spretus and A. sylvaticus), and relatively lower infestation values for voles inhabiting alfalfas. Simultaneous co-infections occurred in a ...