Gastrointestinal parasites of Wolffsohn’s viscacha (Chinchillidae: Lagidium wolffsohni), an endemic rodent species from the wild Patagonia

Abstract

Parasites are ubiquitous in wildlife populations and have a profound impact on population dynamics. Interest in parasites ofwildlife has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in those with relevant conservation status. Patagonia is oneof the wildest and remote areas of the world. The Wolffsohn’s viscacha lives in a small mountainous area of Patagonia. Untilnow, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. The aim of this research was to study the gastrointestinalparasite diversity in this rodent from a coprological survey. A total of 125 fecal samples from 25 colonies were examined.Each sample was rehydrated, homogenized, and analyzed using three parasitological techniques: spontaneous sedimentation,Mini-FLOTAC, and centrifugation-flotation in sucrose-saturated solution, followed by examination under optical microscopy.The samples, eggs, and oocysts of parasites were described, measured, and photographed. All colonies were positivefor at least one parasite species. A total of 10 parasitic species were identified: Viscachataenia sp., possibly V. quadrata,Monoecocestus sp., an unidentified anoplocephalid, Heteroxynema sp., possibly H. (Cavioxyura) viscaciae, Helminthoxyssp., possibly H. effilatus, an unidentified strongylid-type egg, Trichuris sp., two morphologies of unidentified coccidians andEimeria sp. This is the first exhaustive study of gastrointestinal parasites in L. wolffsohni and a large number of eggs andoocysts of parasites were found. Our results highlight the use of noninvasive techniques for the study of parasites of wildlifehosts; as in the case of this rodent with a remote habitat, which makes sampling difficult. The results of our study providebaseline information on gastrointestinal parasite infections in this species.