First record of Amblyomma tigrinum (Acari: Ixodidae) on puma (Puma concolor) in Argentina and new associations for carnivores in San Juan province

Amblyomma tigrinum is a tick species widely distributed in South America. In Argentina, it has been recorded to occur in nearly all phytogeographic regions, exhibiting its plasticity to different types of environments. This tick is of medical and veterinary importance because its adult stages have been recorded primarily in mammals, including humans. Specifically in San Juan province, records of A. tigrinum are almost non-existent, with only two mentions, but which have no indication of host or specific place of collection. For this reason, the goal of this study is to report the first case of A. tigrinum in Argentina, as well as two new parasite-host associations of the adult tick in other carnivores in San Juan. We analyzed two individuals, one puma and one fox, which arrived at the Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education and Responsible Recreation Center (Parque Faunistico). Moreover, we analyzed one canid specimen obtained during a field sampling event. Our results indicated new records for San Juan province of A. tigrinum parasitizing Canis familiaris and Lycalopex gymnocercus, in addition to the first record for Argentina of this tick parasitizing a Puma concolor individual. The present study affords novel information about natural associations for carnivore hosts in San Juan province, and the first record of this tick on a puma for Argentina. Thus, we are contributing to the knowledge of parasite-host relationships on the group of carnivores in Argentina.Fil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre; Argentin

Contributions to the Knowledge of Sexual Dimorphism in Liolaemus darwinii (Squamata, Liolaemidae) in the Monte Desert of Argentina

The lizard Liolaemus darwinii (Liolaemidae) is a typical species with wide distribution in Monte environments of Argentina. The objective of this study is contribute to knowledge of sexual dimorphism in a population of L. darwinii (Bell, 1843). We evaluated sexual shape variation of the cephalic region through procustes analyses with geometric morphometry. We predict that the heads in males will have diff erences in shape with respect to females. The results showed signifi cant sexual diff erences in shape, mainly in the region around the eyes. There were no signifi cant differences in sizes. Geometric morphometry analyses are a useful tool for addressing sexual differences in Monte lizards. This constitutes the first study for the center-west of Argentina in San Juan province that implements these geometric morphometry analyses.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Pleurodema nebulosum (Mendoza Four-eyed Frog). Endoparasites

Pleurodema nebulosum occurs in several provinces of Argentina in the dry Chaco and Monte ecoregions (Vaira et al. 2012. Cuad. Herpetol. 26:131–159). We examined the body cavity of 38 adult P. nebulosum (45 mm mean SVL) collected over three years (2017–2019) in Presidente Sarmiento Provincial Park in San Juan Province, Argentina and deposited in the herpetology collection of the Universidad Nacional de San Juan as (UNSJ 4076-4096). The body cavity was opened by a mid-ventral incision and the interior was searched for helminths utilizing a dissecting microscope. Ten cestodes were found in the stomachs of two individuals. The cestodes were placed in hot distilled water to relax them and subsequently fixed in 10% formalin. They were then stained with hydrochloric carmine, dehydrated, and mounted on slides containing Canada balsam. They were examined with a light microscope and identified as Cylindrotaenia sp., similar to C. americana (Cyclophillidea: Nematotaenidae) (Jewell 1916. J. Parasitol. 2:181–192). The specimens were deposited in the parasitological collection of the Department of Biology, National University of San Juan (UNSJPar 282). They exhibited the following characteristics: paruterine capsules not surrounded by membranes and paruterine organs surrounded by growing cells. Infection prevalence was 5.26%; mean intensity was 5 ± 1.41 SD, range: 4–6 and mean abundance was 0.26. In Argentina, there is only one report of Cylindrotaenia sp. as a parasite; parasitizing Rhinella major in Formosa province, Argentina (Hamann and González 2015. Acta Herpetol. 10:9–101). In this note, the distribution of Cylindrotaenia sp. is expanded and P. nebulosum is a new host record for C. cf. americana.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Liolaemus olongasta (Chelco Lizard): Endoparasites

A total of 158 species of the genus Liolaemus occur in Argentina (Abdala and Quinteros 2014. Cuad. Herpetol. 28:55–82). In Argentina, L. olongasta is distributed in San Juan, Mendoza, and Rioja provinces (Abdala et al. 2012. Cuad. Herpetol. 26:215–248). It is mainly insectivorous and has a unimodal activity pattern (Acosta et al. 2017. Los Reptiles de San Juan. Editorial Brujas, Córdoba. 130 pp.). It is currently categorized as a non-threatened species (Abdala et al. 2012. Cuad. Herpetol. 26:215–248). Here, we report on the helminth endoparasites in the gastrointestinal tracts of L. olongasta in Matagusanos, San Juan Province, Argentina. In February 2017, three specimens of L. olongasta (adult males: mean SVL = 5.9 ± 0.17 cm, range: 5.7–6 mm; weight = 7.4 ± 0.37 g, range (7–7.7 g) were collected at Matagusanos, San Juan Province (31.24638°S, 68.62916°W; 910 m elev.). Phytogeographically, the area is included in the Monte. The stomach and intestines were longitudinally slit, and their contents were examined using a microscope. The dissection revealed one type of prey item and nematodes. The nematodes found were stored in 70% ethanol. Nematode observation and identification was done using the diaphanization by lactophenol technique. The specimens were deposited in the parasitological collection of the Department of Biology, National University of San Juan (UNSJPar254). A dissection of the animal revealed recent ingesta that included one scorpion. A total of two nematodes larvae of the genus Physaloptera were isolated from the stomachs of one adult specimen (infection prevalence = 33.3%, with a mean intensity of 2 and mean abundance of 0.66). Species of the genus Physaloptera occur in the stomach of a variety of terrestrial vertebrates (Goldberg and Bursey 1989. J. Wildl. Dis. 25:425–429). Larvae are common in amphibians and lizards (Anderson 2000. Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates: Their Development and Transmission. CABI Publishing, Oxon, U.K. 650 pp.). Currently, there are 100 Physaloptera described, including valid and inquirendae species, nine of these were described from reptiles (Pereira et al. 2012. J. Parasitol. 98: 1227–1235). In Argentina, Physaloptera has been reported the following reptiles: Liolaemus quilmes, Liolaemus ornatus, Liolaemus alticolor (Ramallo and Díaz 1998. Bol. Chil. Parasitol. 53:19–22), Tropidurus etheridgei (Cruz et al. 1998. Herpetol. Nat. Hist. 6:23–21), Leiosaurus catamarcensis, Leiosaurus belli, Liolaemus neuquensis (Goldberg et al. 2004. Comp. Parasitol. 71:208–214), Liolaemus koslowskyi, Liolaemus darwinii (O’Grady and Dearing 2006. Oecologia 150:355– 361), and Xenodon merremi (Lamas et al. 2016. Facena 32:59–67). Physaloptera sp. in Liolaemus olongasta is a new host record from Argentina.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Parasitic nematodes of reptiles (lizards and snakes) in the Monte Desert of Argentina

Nematodes are little known in the Argentine herpetofauna. In order to increase and contribute to the knowledge of parasitism in reptiles, we studied nematodes found in three species of lizards (Aurivela longicauda, Liolaemus darwinii, and L. riojanus) and one species of snake (Philodryas trilineata) from the Monte desert of center-west Argentina. We registered generalist nematodes commonly found in reptiles, belonging to three taxa: Physaloptera sp. (larvae), Physaloptera retusa (adults) (Physalopteridae) and Parapharyngodon riojensis (Pharyngodonidae) (adults). Liolaemus darwinii had the lowest prevalence of Physaloptera sp. (larvae) (30%) and a mean intensity of 1.3±0.4 (1–2). The lizard A. longicauda had the highest parasitic diversity (2 taxa) with prevalence (50%) and mean intensity (4±3.5) of Physaloptera retusa (adults), also with prevalence (12.5%) and mean intensity (20±0) of Parapharyngodon riojensis (adults). Due to the low number of studied specimens, precise conclusions cannot be drawn for Liolaemus riojanus (n = 2) and P. trilineata (n = 1). However, because the hosts were previously fixed, the results probably may do not represent real infection patterns.The four reptile species correspond to new host records from Argentina, and the information provided contributes to the knowledge of endoparasitism in reptiles of the Argentine Monte region.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Ramallo, Geraldine. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Invertebrados; Argentin

Checklist of nematode parasites of reptiles from Argentina

A summary of the parasitic nematodes of reptiles from Argentina is presented. It is a compilation of 29 parasitological papers published between 1992 and May 2020. This review includes information about 40 species of reptiles (4 snakes, 3 turtles, 1 anfisbaenian and 32 lizards). Twenty-six nematodes species have been reported from reptiles. The present review provides data on hosts, geographical distribution and site of infection. A host/parasite list is also provided.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ramallo, Geraldine. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Invertebrados; Argentin

Parasitism in Oreotrochilus leucopleurus (Trochilidae) from San Guillermo Provincial Reserve, San Juan, Argentina

El conocimiento en ectoparásitos de aves silvestres es fragmentario, a pesar de que el parasitismo en este grupo de vertebrados es omnipresente. El ácaro rojo, Dermanyssus sp, es un parásito obligado de aves silvestres y domésticas. Ocasionalmente infesta mamíferos, incluidos perros, gatos, caballos, ganados y roedores. Este género representa gran importancia en medicina veterinaria para América Latina y cuya distribución se extiende en todo el mundo.En este sentido, el objetivo del trabajo fue determinar el ectoparasitismo en el picaflor andino Oreotrochilus leucopleurus en el centro oeste de Argentina. Se determinó la presencia de ninfas de Dermanyssus sp mediante muestras obtenidas de un nido de O. leucopleurus a 3500 metros de altitud. Nuestro estudio representa el primer registro de este parásito en O. leucopleurus, contribuyendo al conocimiento del parasitismo en aves silvestres.Knowledge about ectoparasites in wild birds is fragmentary, despite the fact that parasitism in this group of vertebrates is omnipresent. Dermanyssus sp. red mite, is an obligate parasite of wild and domestic birds. Occasionally it infests mammals, including dogs, cats, horses, cattle and rodents. This genus represents great importance in veterinary medicine for America Latin and whose distribution extends worldwide. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the ectoparasitism in the andean humming bird Oreotrochilus leucopleurus in the center west of Argentina. We determined the nymphs’ presence of Dermanyssus sp through samples obtained from a nest of O. leucopleurus at 3500 meters of altitude. Our study represents the first record of this parasite in O. leucopleurus, contributing to knowledge in parasitism in wild birds.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Record of Endoparasites or Rhea Tarapacensis (Chubb, 1913) (Rheiformes: Rheidae) in the Center Andean Foothills in Argentina

El conocimiento sobre endoparásitos en aves silvestres del género Rhea en Argentina es fragmentario e incompleto. En este sentido, el objetivo del trabajo fue determinar mediante análisis de fecas, la presencia de huevos de endoparásitos en Rhea tarapacensis Chubb, 1913 (Rheiformes: Rheidae) en una localidad de la precordillera central de Argentina. Los muestreos se realizaron en la Reserva Don Carmelo, Departamento de Ullum, Provincia de San Juan, en abril 2017. Se examinaron un total de 9 heces frescas de ejemplares adultos de R. tarapacensis. Se registró la presencia de huevos del género Heterakis sp. Este hallazgo parasitológico es el primero para esta especie en Argentina, contribuyendo al actual conocimiento parasitológico del género Rhea.Knowledge about endoparasites in wild birds of the genus Rhea in Argentina is fragmentary and incomplete. The aim of this work was to determine - through analysis of the faeces - the presence of endoparasite eggs in Rhea tarapacensis Chubb, 1913 (Rheiformes: Rheidae) in a town of the central foothills of Argentina. The samplings were carried out in the Reserva Don Carmelo, Department of Ullum, Province of San Juan, in April 2017. Atotal of 9 fresh faecal samples of adult specimens of R. tarapacensis were examined. The presence of eggs of the genus Heterakis sp. were recorded. This parasitological finding is the first for this species in Argentina, contributing to the current parasitological knowledge of the genus Rhea.Fil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Borghi, Carlos Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; Argentin

Chelonoidis chilensis (Chaco Tortoise): Endoparasites

Two species of the genus Chelonoidis occur in Argentina, both of which are considered nationally endangered. In Argentina, C. chilensis is distributed over the northern two thirds of the country (Prado et al. 2012. Cuad. Herpetol. 26:375–387). Adults are largely herbivorous, but dietary choices may vary according to the available resources (Richard 1994. Cuad. Herpetol. 8:131–140). In Argentina, relationships between nematodes and turtles have received limited attention...Fil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Adarvez Giovanini, Silvina Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable; ArgentinaFil: Simoncelli, Iván Darío. Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable; Argentin

The role of sex in the structure of the nematode population in an amphibian species from Monte de Argentina

Diversos estudios comparativos han demostrado que los hospedadores machos no sólo podrían albergar más parásitos que las hembras, sino también tener un rol en la estructura de la población de nematodes. Debido a esto, debatimos la función que tiene el sexo en el parasitismo en una población de anfibios en un sector del monte. Analizamos el contenido gastrointestinal en busca de endoparásitos de 43 ejemplares de Pleurodema nebulosum (Burmeister, 1861), 38 adultos (26 machos y 12 hembras) y 5 juveniles. Nuestros resultados indicaron que únicamente machos se encontraban parasitados asociado con una curva correspondiente a un modelo parasitismo/ rango - edad tipo III. Aplectana nebulosa Piñeiro-Gómez, González & Sanabria, 2017 (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) presenta un patrón de distribución agregado ajustado a un modelo Poisson. Pleurodema nebulosum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) es oportunista para reproducirse en periodos de lluvia, debido a esto nosotros proponemos como hipótesis que el momento de infección por nematodes probablemente ocurra durante estos cortos periodos en lagunas temporales formadas. El parasitismo en machos podría estar relacionado a factores hormonales debido al periodo reproductivo. Por lo tanto el sexo sería un factor importante en la estructuración de las poblaciones parásitas de esta especie de anfibio.Several comparative studies demonstrated that male host could have more parasites than female, in a way that host sex could play a role in the structure of the nematode parasite populations. Here we discussed the role of sex of parasitism in an amphibian population in a sector of the Monte. We analyzed the gastrointestinal content for endoparasites of 43 Pleurodema nebulosum (Burmeister, 1861) specimens, 38 adults (26 males and 12 females) and 5 juveniles. Our results indicated that only males were parasitized associated with a curve corresponding to a type III model. Aplectana nebulosa Piñeiro-Gómez, González & Sanabria, 2017 (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) presents an aggregate distribution pattern adjusted to a Poisson model. Pleurodema nebulosum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) is opportunistic to reproduce in periods of rain, because of this we propose the hypothesis that the moment of infection by nematodes probably occurs during these short periods in temporary lagoons formed. Parasitism in males may be related to hormonal factors due to the reproductive period. Therefore, sex would be an important factor that structures parasitism in this species of amphibian.Fil: Castillo, Gabriel Natalio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: González Rivas, Cynthia Jesica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin