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1 July 2016 Infection Rates of Orthohalarachne attenuata and Orthohalarachne diminuata (Acari: Halarachnidae) in Arctocephalus australis (Zimmermann, 1783) (Pinipedia: Otariidae)
Silvia B. Gastal, Carolina S. Mascarenhas, Jeronimo L. Ruas
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Abstract

Halarachnidae consists of nasal mites that parasitize pinnipeds. The respiratory tracts of 22 Arctocephalus australis (South American fur seal) were examined for the presence of mites and to study their parasitological indices. Of these, 15 hosts (68.2%) were infected with Orthohalarachne attenuata, 5 of which (22.7%) were coinfected with Orthohalarachne diminuata. A moderate to severe infection by O. attenuata was observed in 27.3% of the hosts, and by O. diminuata in 9.1%. Co-infection occurred in all O. diminuata–positive hosts. No significant differences for Halarachnidae prevalence were found between male and female hosts. Mite infections of the respiratory system by Otariidae are often reported; however, further studies should be conducted to better understand host–parasite relationships and possible pathogeneses caused by these infections.

The Helminthological Society of Washington
Silvia B. Gastal, Carolina S. Mascarenhas, and Jeronimo L. Ruas "Infection Rates of Orthohalarachne attenuata and Orthohalarachne diminuata (Acari: Halarachnidae) in Arctocephalus australis (Zimmermann, 1783) (Pinipedia: Otariidae)," Comparative Parasitology 83(2), 245-249, (1 July 2016). https://doi.org/10.1654/4797s.1
Published: 1 July 2016
KEYWORDS
marine mammals
Orthohalarachne attenuata
Orthohalarachne diminuata
respiratory system
South American fur seal
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