Epidemiological study and identification of some flea species infesting wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and cape hares (Lepus capensis) in northern Algeria

A population of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been monitored since November 1996 through mark–recapture as part of a longitudinal epidemiological study into two Australian rabbit biocontrol agents, rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and myxomatosis. A female rabbit, first captured as a subadult in late November 1999, was recaptured 18 times before its final capture at the end of February 2007. The longevity of this rabbit, being from its calculated birth date to the date it was last captured, was 7.6 years. A review of the literature indicates this to be the longest lifespan recorded for a European rabbit in the wild.

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The Distribution of the Stickfast Fleas, Echidnophaga Myrmecobii Rothschild and E. Perilis Jordan, on the Wild Rabbit, Oryctolagus Cuniculus (L.).

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9790261 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

RCH Shepherd ◽

JW Edmonds

Keyword(s):

Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽

Flea Species ◽

Seasonal Patterns ◽

Wild Rabbit ◽

Head Region ◽

Male And Female ◽

Body Regions

Rabbits were examined for E. myrmecobii and E. perilis. Each skin was divided into several regions. E. myrmecobii were found on the head and body regions and E. perilis on the forepaws and hind feet, irrespective of the sex and age of the host. E. perilis were also found on the scrota1 region of breeding bucks. The numbers of each species of flea per rabbit built up through the summer and autumn months to peak in March. The seasonal patterns of increase and decrease were generally similar for each flea species. There were always more female than male fleas. The female : male ratios were lowest when flea numbers were high. Female E. myrmecobii were more commonly found on the head region of both male and female rabbits, whereas female E. perilis were more common on the hind feet of rabbits. Female rabbits were more heavily infested by both E. myrmecobii and E. perilis than were males.

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Seasonal Dynamics of Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae, Ceratophyllidae and Leptopsyllidae) on Oryctolagus cuniculus in a Meso-Mediterranean Area of Central Spain

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jme/tjab033 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M G González ◽

J González ◽

F Valcárcel ◽

M Sánchez ◽

J M Tercero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Dynamics ◽

Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Flea Species ◽

Central Spain

Abstract Flea infestations of wild rabbits were examined monthly in central Spain in a meso-Mediterranean area for 5 yr. A total of 1,180 wild rabbits were trapped and 7,022 fleas were collected from them. Overall, the prevalence was 74.1% with a mean flea index of 5.95 fleas per rabbit. Four flea species were identified: Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale, 1878) was the most abundant species (accounting for 74.3% of fleas collected) followed by Xenopsylla cunicularis (Smit, 1957), Odontopsyllus quirosi (Gil Collado, 1934), and Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc, 1800) (18.9, 6.7, and 0.1%, respectively). The highest prevalence was observed in S. cuniculi (48.6%) followed by X. cunicularis, O. quirosi, and N. fasciatus (34.3, 20.0, and 0.6%, respectively). Odontopsyllus quirosi and S. cuniculi were mainly collected from autumn to spring with the peak of infestation in winter, while X. cunicularis was mainly found from spring to autumn with maximum levels of infestation during the summer months. The relevance of these findings is discussed.

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