A method for testing the host specificity of ectoparasites: give them the opportunity to choose

Authors

Carlos EL Esbérard, Universidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroFollow
Fernanda Martins-Hatano, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro
Emerson B. Bittencourt, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro
David EP Bossi, **Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis-Ibama
Angélica Fontes, Centro de Estudos Parasitológicos y de Vetores, La Plata, Buenos Aires
Marcela Lareschi, Centro de Estudos Parasitológicos y de Vetores, La Plata, Buenos Aires
Vanderlaine Menezes, University of Central Arkansas
Helena G. Bergallo, University of Central Arkansas
Donald Gettinger, University of Central ArkansasFollow

Date of this Version

11-2005

Citation

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 100(7): 761-764, November 2005, pp 761-764

Abstract

Host-choice experiments were carried out with rodent and bat ectoparasites on Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We constructed experimental chambers that enclosed three different rodent or bat host species, and then introduced a selected set of ectoparasitic arthropods. When given the opportunity to choose among host species, the ectoparasites showed a strong tendency to select their primary hosts, and reject novel host species. These kinds of simple experiments can be valuable tools for assessing the ability of ectoparasites to locate and discern differences between host species, and make choices about which hosts to infest, and which hosts to avoid.