Abstract
Morphological abnormalities in fleas seem to be common in nature and are under reported in Argentina. In this note, we describe anomalies in two males and one female of Alectopsylla unisetosa Mahnert (Ischnopsyllidae) and one of Polygenis sp. (Rhopalopsyllidae) male collected from small mammals in the provinces of Neuquen and Salta, Argentina. In all specimens, the anomalies were observed at the level of the genitalia recognized as partial castration. The structures mainly affected were the modified abdominal segments, the aedeagus (in male), and the spermatheca (in female). The present communication is the first one devoted exclusively to teratogenous fleas in Argentina.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the members of the Instituto de Investigaciones de Biodiversidad Argentina (PIDBA) for their help during this study, and to M.W. Hastriter for correcting the English language of the manuscript.
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This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.
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M.F. López Berrizbeitia provided morphological descriptions and M.J. Pérez prepared the figures. Both authors wrote, reviewed, edited (equal), and finalized the manuscript.
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Sampling and procedures in Patagonia were carried out under permits from the Administracion de Parques Nacionales (Pro. 1161). Sampling and procedures in the Northwestern Argentina were carried out under permits from the Secretaria de Ambiente y Desarrollo sustentable de Salta (No. 000163). All animals were handled in accordance with the animal care and use guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists (Sikes 2016).
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Berrizbeitia, M.F.L., Pérez, M.J. Evidence of castrations in fleas of small mammals (Chiroptera and Rodentia) from Argentina. Parasitol Res 123, 136 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08159-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08159-4