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The helminth community of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis (Lagomorpha: Leporidae), in the province of Granada, Spain

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Helminthologia

Summary

The helminth community of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis, in the southern Spanish province of Granada was analysed, thorough the study of 487 individuals shot by hunters between November 1998 and October 1999. Six helminth species were found: Mosgovoyia pectinata (Cestoda); Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Nematodiroides zembrae, Nematodirus sp., Passalurus ambiguus and Micipsella numidica (Nematoda). N. zembrae and M. pectinata (62.4 % and 17.2 %, respectively) were the only component species found. The predominance of helminth species with a direct life cycle is noteworthy. These two component species were significantly influenced by season of capture. Other factors, such as host age and municipality of capture, influenced the prevalences and/or abundances of the component species, while host sex did not exert any important role. These variations, determined by extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors, in the helminth community could be related to the ecology of the Iberian hare, mainly diet, habitat and behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal s/n, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain

    J. M. Segovia, T. Vila & C. Feliu

  2. Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, Málaga, E-29071, Spain

    J. M. Vargas

  3. Departament de Biologia Cel·lular i Parasitologia, Facultat de Famàcia, Universitat de València, Avinguda de Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, Burjassot, València, E-46100, Spain

    M. V. Fuentes

  4. IRBIO, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain

    C. Feliu

Authors
  1. J. M. Segovia
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  2. T. Vila
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  3. J. M. Vargas
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  4. M. V. Fuentes
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  5. C. Feliu
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Correspondence to M. V. Fuentes.

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Segovia, J.M., Vila, T., Vargas, J.M. et al. The helminth community of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis (Lagomorpha: Leporidae), in the province of Granada, Spain. Helminthologia 51, 281–287 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-014-0242-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-014-0242-7

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