Fleas: Permanent satellites of small mammals

Medvedev, S. G.; Krasnov, Boris R.

doi:10.1007/978-4-431-36025-4_10

Cited by 24 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The precocious anaemia associated with low body condition early in life and other physiological disorders may explain the early death of parasitized voles. In addition, fleas are known to be vectors of several microorganisms (Ricketssiae typhus, trypanosomes …) (Medvedev and Krasnov, 2006) with potentially pathogenic effects on the host. The measured cost of flea infestation is thus the sum of the direct effects of the flea and the indirect consequences of potentially inoculated pathogens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chagas' disease : Garcia et al 2007, Lyme disease : Brisson et al 2008. Fleas are widespread parasites of small mammals, vectors of numerous diseases (Medvedev and Krasnov, 2006) and their effects on host's fitness are largely unknown. Some recent studies in gerbils demonstrated that fleas induce body mass loss in adult desert gerbils Gerbillus dasyurus (Khokhlova et al 2002), whereas this was not the case in adult Anderson's gerbils Gerbillus andersoni (Hawlena et al 2006 a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole

Devevey

Christe

2009

Parasitology

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Parasitism is often a source of variation in host's fitness components. Understanding and estimating its relative importance for fitness components of hosts is fundamental from physiological, ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Host-parasite studies have often reported parasite-induced reduction of host fecundity, whereas the effect of parasitism on host survival has been largely neglected. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of infestation by rat fleas (Nosopsyllus fasciatus) on the life span of wild-derived male common voles (Microtus arvalis) bred in captivity. We found that the mean life span of parasitized voles was reduced by 36% compared to control voles. Parasitized voles had a smaller body size, but a relatively larger heart and spleen than control voles. These results indicate an effect of flea infestation on host life span and our findings strongly suggest that ectoparasites should be taken into account in the studies of host population dynamics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole

Devevey

Christe

2009

Parasitology

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“…For example, flea fauna worldwide comprise 2000–3000 species (Lewis, 1998; Medvedev, 2005; Krasnov, 2008). The number of flea species in the Neotropics ( n = 289) is similar to those in the Nearctic and Afrotropics ( n = 299 and n = 275, respectively), but much smaller than that in the Palaearctic ( n = 892) (Medvedev & Krasnov, 2006). In Brazil, only 62 species and subspecies of fleas have been recorded (Linardi, 2011), although Brazil is considered to represent a hotspot of global biodiversity (Mittermeier et al , 1998; Myers et al , 2000) and occupies a vast area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Patterns of diversity and abundance of fleas and mites in the Neotropics: host‐related, parasite‐related and environment‐related factors

Linardi

Krasnov

2012

Medical Vet Entomology

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The effects of host-related, parasite-related and environmental factors on the diversity and abundance of two ectoparasite taxa, fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and mites (Acari: Mesostigmata), parasitic on small mammals (rodents and marsupials), were studied in different localities across Brazil. A stronger effect of host-related factors on flea than on mite assemblages, and a stronger effect of environmental factors on mite than on flea assemblages were predicted. In addition, the effects of parasite-related factors on flea and mite diversity and abundance were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of infracommunities, whereas the effects of host-related and environmental factors were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of component and compound communities. This study found that, in general, diversity and abundance of flea and mite assemblages at two lower hierarchical levels (infracommunities and component communities) were affected by host-related, parasite-related and environmental factors, and compound communities were affected mainly by host-related and environmental factors. The effects of factors differed between fleas and mites: in fleas, community structure and abundance depended on host diversity to a greater extent than in mites. In addition, the effects of factors differed among parasite assemblages harboured by different host species.

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“…Based on general ecological predictions for ectoparasites, it is also possible to speculate further on some other life history and ecological differences between D1 ( D. abaris ) and D2 ( D. ellobius ). It has furthermore been recorded that the level of host association (host specificity and time spent on the host) exhibited by a parasite can influence the distribution of parasites within a host population, community and environment (Krasnov et al ., ; Medvedev & Krasnov, ; Krasnov, ; Froeschke et al ., ). It is therefore possible that the specific life history strategy that is used by the parasite can influence the species' geographical distribution (Poulin & Krasnov, ) and this will be reflected in its spatial genetic structure across the landscape (Krasnov & Poulin, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A genetic perspective on the taxonomy and evolution of the medically important flea,Dinopsyllus ellobius(Siphonaptera: Dinopsyllinae), and the resurrection ofDinopsyllus abaris

Mescht

Matthee

2015

Biol. J. Linn. Soc.

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Dinopsyllus ellobius is considered a common and widespread flea in southern Africa and can act as a vector for plague. Due to differences in the interpretation of geographical variation in male sternite VIII, the taxonomy of the species is characterized by uncertainty. In an attempt to provide a better understanding of the systematics of D. ellobius, and also to provide new insights into the mechanisms that play a role in the diversification of the taxon, we sampled 830 small mammals at 31 localities throughout the distribution range of the parasite. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) sequence data were generated for 151 D. ellobius specimens from 19 positive localities and this data set was supplemented with partial data derived from an elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1‐α) intron. A parsimony haplotype network of the mtDNA and a Splitstree analyses revealed the existence of two genetic clades that were separated by 5.53% (± 1.78) sequence divergence. Although the nuclear DNA data were unresolved, significant size differences were detected between head, coxa, femur and tibia lengths of male individuals belonging to the two mtDNA lineages. The exact mechanisms that could have caused the diversification among lineages are not clear but the two lineages seem to be geographically separated and may have different ecological requirements. The present study strongly supports the notion that the two lineages are representative of D. ellobius (probably more associated with the host body and better adapted to mesic conditions) and Dinopsyllus abaris (probably more associated with the host nest and diverse climatic conditions) as originally proposed based on the single morphological character confined to male sternite VIII.

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Fleas: Permanent satellites of small mammals

Cited by 24 publications

References 41 publications

Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole

Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole

Patterns of diversity and abundance of fleas and mites in the Neotropics: host‐related, parasite‐related and environment‐related factors

A genetic perspective on the taxonomy and evolution of the medically important flea,Dinopsyllus ellobius(Siphonaptera: Dinopsyllinae), and the resurrection ofDinopsyllus abaris

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