We investigated the parasite communities of introduced Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) and native European hares (Lepus europaeus) in southern France, where Iberian hares were introduced locally 20 yr ago as a game animal. Parasite communities of sympatric populations of the two hare species and of allopatric populations of European hares were compared. Iberian hares in France harbored a depauperate community of parasites relative to the population in its native habitat in Spain. European hares in areas of sympatry also were infected by Nematodiroides zembrae, which normally infects Iberian hares on their native range.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 2007
Helminth Communities of an Introduced Hare (Lepus granatensis) and a Native Hare (Lepus europaeus) in Southern France
Frédéric Bordes,
Juliette Langand,
Carlos Feliu,
Serge Morand
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 43 • No. 4
October 2007
Vol. 43 • No. 4
October 2007
European hare
Iberian hare
introduced populations
Lepus europaeus
Lepus granatensis
macroparasites
Nematodiroides zembrae