Arthropod Ectoparasites of Two Rodent Species Occurring in Varied Elevations on Tanzania's Second Highest Mountain.

ABSTRACT: Climate change causes organisms, including species that act as parasite reservoirs and vectors, to shift their distribution to higher altitudes, affecting wildlife infestation patterns. We studied how ectoparasite distributions varied with altitude using two rodent species, Montemys delectorum and Rhabdomys dilectus, at different elevations (1500-3500 m). The ectoparasites infesting the two rodent species were influenced by the host sex, species, and temperature. We expected host density to predict parasite infestation patterns, because hosts in higher densities should have more parasites due to increased contact between individuals. However, temperature, not host density, affected ectoparasite distribution. Since temperatures decrease with elevation, parasite prevalences and

SUBMITTER: Gebrezgiher GB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10045264 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature