Helminthfauna from small mammals (insectivores and rodents) on the Pityusic Islands

Helminth fauna of wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus in the Canary Islands, Spain

“…The loss of helminth species in O. cuniculus in the Macaronesian islands has been demonstrated previously in the context of the Palearctic Region (Foronda et al, 2003b). This process can be explained by the general characteristics of the parasitofauna in isolated ecosystems (Mas-Coma & Feliu, 1984;Magnanou & Morand, 2006). Similarly, the reduction in the number of parasite species in Fuerteventura, La Graciosa and Alegranza has been noticed (see Foronda et al, 2003b for Alegranza).…”

“…First, the bioclimatic differences, especially in temperature and vegetation, between the western (Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro) and the eastern islands situated closer to Africa (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Graciosa and Alegranza, see Table 1). Second, the small size of La Graciosa and Alegranza, means lower surface and more biodiversity loss (Mas-Coma & Feliu, 1984, Mas-Coma et al, 2000, limiting species with life cycles dependent of the external environment (monoxenous geohelminth nematodes as T. retortaeformis, and platyhelminthes, as A. cuniculi and T. pisiformis). These two last species has been found with no homogenous distribution previously (Foronda et al, 2003a).…”

Very highly prevalent Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infection of wild boar Sus scrofa in Khuzestan province, south-western Iran

“…Pathology induced by Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus in wild boar: A) a fibrotic nodule caused by the attachment of worm proboscis to the intestinal wall, visible from serosal surface; B) local trauma and haemorrhages around the site of the worm heads invading the intestinal tissue in the early stages; C) in old lessions, the worms might give up the anchored places of the intestinal wall; this empty hole shows a chronic formation of fibrotic tissues; both acute and chronic reactions can be seen in the same host individual; D) newly invaded site of the intestine typically demonstrating the haemorrhage and inflammation causing severe injury to the tissue; E, G) cross sections at the level of praesome of acanthocephalan armed head causing severe infiltration of mononuclear and polynuclear cells, with a lower number of macrophages; F) the powerful and invasive hooks of the armed worm proboscis can produce tissue damage causing destruction of villi and erosion of epithelium; H, I) penetration tend to be continuous into the deeper layers of intestine near to the serosal surface; lamina propria around the proboscis has intense infiltration by neutrophils, eosinophils and plasma cells; this area shows hyperaemic and oedematous changing. Scale bars: A = 10.5 mm; B = 7.5 mm; C = 4.5 mm; D, E = 500 µm; F = 100 µm; G, H = 300 µm; I = 450 µm ecosystems, where prevalences higher than in open mainlands are also accompanied by higher intensities (Mas-Coma, 1979;Mas-Coma & Feliu, 1984;Mas-Coma & Esteban, 1988). Similarly, the relatively little inflammatory responses detected in many boars of the present study may also suggest relatively recent infections, as deep proboscis penetration and more extensive encapsulating reactions with necrotic/inflammatory tissue in its inner part and filamentous connective tissue in its outer part, appear after almost 3 month infections (Zhao et al, 1990).…”

Gallegostrongylus australisn. sp. (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) from Muridae in Australia, with zoogeographical considerations

“…Man's shipping lanes have accelerated the geographical distribution of these four rodent species and presu mably their parasites. Parasitologists have evaluated the parasite fauna of rodents on the islands of the Mediter ranean compared with those on the mainland and concluded that (i) the parasite fauna of rodents on islands is generally impoverished, (ii) when parasites are found, there are a significant number of species and genera present in island rodents which do not normally occur in the same rodent species on continental areas (Mas-Coma & Feliu, 1984;Feliu et al, 1985a, b). Conse quently, insular helminths usually adapt to new hosts, that is, hosts different from the continental ones from which they originated.…”