Parasitic helminths of small mammals in Elba Island

Abstract

We investigated the helminth fauna of small mammals (Rodentia and Insectivora) in the mediterranean island of Elba (Italy). We first performed a survey of the parasitic helminths of <em>Rattus rattus</em> (L., 1758), <em>Mus domesticus</em> (Schwarz &#38; Schwarz, 1943) (Rodentia, Murinae), <em>Crocidura suaveolens</em> (Pallas, 1811) (Insectivora, Soricidae) and <em>Erinaceus europaeus</em> L., 1758 (Insectivora, Erinaceidae). An expedition was undertaken in January 2002 making an helminth faunistic study of: 14 <em>R. rattus</em>; 11 <em>M. domesticus</em>; 2 <em>C. suaveolens</em> and 1 <em>E. europaeus</em>. A total of 28 animals were trapped at seven stations and nine helminth species were detected: <em>Corrigia vitta</em> Dujardin, 1845 (Dicrocoelidae), <em>Brachylaima erinacei</em> Blanchard, 1847 (Brachylaimidae) [Digenea]; <em>Hymenolepis diminuta</em> (Rudolphi, 1819); <em>H. tiara</em> (Dujardin, 1845) (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae); <em>Aonchotheca erinacei</em> Rudolphi, 1819; <em>Capillaria hepatica</em> Bancroft, 1893 (Trichuridae); <em>Mastophorus muris</em> (Gmelin, 1790) (Spirocercidae); <em>Paracrenosoma kontrimavinchusi</em> Guenov, 1978 (Metastrongylidae); <em>Syphacia muris</em> (Yamaguti, 1935) (Oxyuridae) [Nematoda]. The house mice were not infected by helminths. In the black rat, five species were detected: <em>C. vitta</em>, <em>H. diminuta</em>, <em>C. hepaticum</em>, <em>M. muris</em> and <em>S. muris</em>. Insectivores hosts were parasitised by <em>B. erinacei</em>, <em>A. erinacei</em> (<em>E. europaeus</em>), <em>H. tiara</em> and <em>P. kontrimavinchusi</em> (<em>C. suaveolens</em>). All species were identified by morphological characteristics and in the cases of <em>H. diminuta</em> and <em>M. muris</em> isozyme electrophoresis were used to compare with continental and insular samples. Helminths found in these hosts in Elba Island (apart of <em>P. kontrimavinchusi</em>) are the best colonisers of mediterranean islands. These species were found both near continental areas (Iberian Peninsula, France and Italian Peninsula) and mediterranean islands. Most of species found in the helminth faunas have an indirect life cycle except <em>S. muris</em> and <em>C. hepaticum</em>. This study was partially supported by the ?Comissionat per Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya? 2001SGR00088.