Fleas of wild carnivores in Romania: diversity, distribution, and host-associations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fleas are important hematophagous insects, infesting mammals and birds with a worldwide distribution. Fleas of medical importance have been reported from various carnivores worldwide, such as felids, canids, or mustelids. Romania hosts a wide carnivore diversity, but very little is known about flea species that parasitize these animals in Romania. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the fleas' diversity and their distribution in a relatively large and diverse number of wild carnivore hosts from Romania.

Methods

From 2013 to 2021, 282 carcasses of wild carnivores from different locations in Romania were collected and examined for the presence of ectoparasites. All collected fleas were morphologically identified using specific keys and descriptions

SUBMITTER: Deak G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10956227 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature