Life Sciences Commons^™

Discovery Of A 240 Million Year Old Nematode Parasite Egg In A Cynodont Coprolite Sheds Light On The Early Origin Of Pinworms In Vertebrates, Jean-Pierre Hugot, Scott Gardner, Victor Borba, Priscilla Araujo, Daniela Leles, Átila Da-Rosa, Juliana Dutra, Luis Fernando Ferreira, Adauto Araújo

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: We report the discovery of a nematode parasite egg (Nemata: Oxyurida) from a coprolite closely associated with the remains of several species of Cynodontia, dated to 240 million years old. This finding is particularly significant because this is the oldest record of an oxyurid nematode yet discovered, and because the cynodonts are considered a stem-group of the mammals.

Methods: We extracted material from a fully mineralized coprolite by both scraping the surface, and removing fragments from its interior with clean dental instruments used a single time. A single drop of glycerol from a new vial was added as a …

Parasitism Of Hylodes Phyllodes (Anura: Cycloramphidae) By Hannemania Sp. (Acari: Trombiculidae) In An Area Of Atlantic Forest, Ilha Grande, Southeastern Brazil, F. H. Hatano, Donald Gettinger, M. Van Sluys, C. F. D. Rocha

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

We studied some parameters of the parasitism by the mite Hannemania sp. on the endemic frog Hylodes phyllodes in the Atlantic Forest of Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). Prevalence, mean abundance, mean intensity and total intensity of infestation, body regions infected, and host sexual differences in parasitism rate of the larvae of Hannemania sp. on individuals of H. phyllodes were assessed. Prevalence was 86.5 % (N = 37; total of 1,745 larvae of Hannemania sp) for male hosts and 91.7 % (N =12; total of 330 larvae) for female hosts, with no significant difference between the sexes. Overall …

Bolivian Ectoparasites: A New Species Of Laelapine Mite (Acari: Parasitiformes, Laelapidae) From The Rodent Neacomys Spinosus, Donald Gettinger, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Laelaps neacomydis n. sp. is described from the pelage of the rodent Neacomys spinosus collected in Bolivia. Collection records from northern Brazil, southeastern Peru, and central Bolivia indicate its wide distribution across Amazonas associated with rodents of the genus Neacomys. The formal taxonomic description and illustrations are derived from the adults (female and male). Two larger species of laelapine mites, Gigantolaelaps intermedius and L. boultoni, infest the same hosts at the same localities.

Small Mammal Community Structure And Composition In The Cerrado Province Of Central Brazil, Michael A. Mares, Kristina A. Ernest, Donald D. Gettinger

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Community structure, macrohabitat selection, and patterns of species co-occur- rence were examined during a 14-month study of small mammals in the Cerrado Province of central Brazil. Data were collected from mark-recapture grids in brejo and gallery forest, and from live-trapping and specimen collection in all habitat types within cerrado (campo limpo, campo sujo, cerrado [s.s.], cerradão, brejo, valley-side wet campo, and gallery forest). Gallery forest supported the highest species richness, most complex vertical distribution of species, highest level of trophic diversity, and highest macroniche diversity. Degree of habitat selection varied widely. All habitat types supported both rodents and marsupials, although …