Trypomastigotes and potential flea vectors of the endemic rodents and the introduced Rattus rattus in the rainforests of Madagascar

Authors: Laakkonen J.¹; Goodman S.M.²; Duchemin J-B.³; Duplantier J-M.⁴

Source: Biodiversity and Conservation, Volume 12, Number 8, August 2003 , pp. 1775-1783(9)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Transmission of parasites and diseases may be one of the mechanisms for the displacement of native and endemic rodents of Madagascar (subfamily Nesomyinae) by the introduced Rattus rattus (subfamily Murinae). We studied the occurrence of trypomastigotes in rodents at several rainforest sites on the island. Examination of blood smears showed Trypanosoma lewisi-like trypomastigotes in 11.5% of the R. rattus (n = 52). Trypomastigotes differing in morphology from those of T. lewisi were detected in 4% of the endemic rodent Nesomys rufus (n = 23). In contrast to the relatively heavy infections found in R. rattus, only a few trypomastigotes were found in the infected N. rufus. Trypomastigotes were not found in other nesomyine rodents including Eliurus minor (n = 18), E. tanala (n = 15), E. grandidieri (n = 12), E. majori (n = 9) or E. webbi (n = 9). Of potential vectors of trypomastigotes, six endemic species of fleas were identified from the rodents.

Keywords: Fleas; Invasion; Madagascar; Murinae; Nesomyinae; Rodents; Trypanosoma

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Biology, Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093-0116, USA; Current address: Finnish Forest Research Institute, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland (e-mail: juha.laak 2: Center for Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 60605, USA; World Wide Fund for Nature, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar 3: Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar 4: IRD, CBGP, Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, Montferrier sur Lez cedex, F-34988, France

Publication date: 2003-08-01

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• In this Subject: Ecology
• By this author: Laakkonen J. ;  Goodman S.M. ;  Duchemin J-B. ;  Duplantier J-M.

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