Seasonal Hair Glucocorticoid Fluctuations in Wild Mice (Phyllotis darwini) within a Semi-Arid Landscape in North-Central Chile.

Mammals in drylands face environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. Currently, human activity significantly impacts these environments, and its effects on the energy demands experienced by individuals have not yet been determined. Energy demand in organisms is managed through elevations in glucocorticoid levels, which also vary with developmental and health states. Here, we assessed how anthropization, individual characteristics, and seasonality influence hair glucocorticoid concentration in the Darwin's leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis darwini) inhabiting two areas with contrasting anthropogenic intervention in a semi-arid ecosystem of northern Chile. Hair samples were collected (n = 199) to quantify hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) using enzyme immunoassays; additionally, sex, body condition, and ectoparasite load were recorded. There were no differences in HCC between anthropized areas and areas protected from human disturbance; however, higher concentrations were recorded in females, and seasonal fluctuations were experienced by males. The results indicate that animals inhabiting semi-arid ecosystems are differentially stressed depending on their sex. Additionally, sex and season have a greater impact on corticosterone concentration than anthropogenic perturbation, possibly including temporal factors, precipitation, and primary production. The influence of sex and seasonality on HCC in P. darwini make it necessary to include these variables in future stress assessments of this species.

External and gastrointestinal parasites of the Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (Charadriiformes: Laridae), in Talcahuano, central Chile.

Parasitological studies of the Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, are scarce, and knowledge about its endoparasites is quite limited. In order to describe its parasitic community, a total of 60 Franklin's gulls were captured in the coastal area in central Chile, using modified Bal-chatri traps. Ectoparasites were collected from all 60 live individuals through inspection of their plumage, while 30 were examined for endoparasites by standard parasitological necropsy. The prevalence of ectoparasites was 78.3%, including the feather mite Zachvatkinia larica (43.3%) and four species of lice: Actornithophilus piceus lari (15.0%), Austromenopon transversum (6.7%), Quadraceps punctatus (10.0%) and Saemundssonia lari (46.7%). Some 25 of 30 (83.3%) of birds necropsied were parasitized with the following helminths: Aporchis sp. (6.7%), Tetrabothrius cylindraceus (56.7%), Cyclophyllidea gen. sp. (3.3%), Profilicollis altmani (56.7%), Eucoleus contortus (10.0%), Cosmocephalus obvelatus (13.3%), Paracuaria adunca (10.0%), Stegophorus sp. (3.3%) and Tetrameres skrjabini (3.3%). To our knowledge, with the exception of P. altmani, these helminths are reported for first time in the Franklin's gull.

External and gastrointestinal parasites of the Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (Charadriiformes: Laridae), in Talcahuano, central Chile / Parasitas externos e gastrointestinais da gaivota de Franklin Leucophaeus pipixcan (Charadriiformes: Laridae) em Talcahuano, Chile central

Abstract Parasitological studies of the Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, are scarce, and knowledge about its endoparasites is quite limited. In order to describe its parasitic community, a total of 60 Franklin's gulls were captured in the coastal area in central Chile, using modified Bal-chatri traps. Ectoparasites were collected from all 60 live individuals through inspection of their plumage, while 30 were examined for endoparasites by standard parasitological necropsy. The prevalence of ectoparasites was 78.3%, including the feather mite Zachvatkinia larica (43.3%) and four species of lice: Actornithophilus piceus lari (15.0%), Austromenopon transversum (6.7%), Quadraceps punctatus (10.0%) and Saemundssonia lari (46.7%). Some 25 of 30 (83.3%) of birds necropsied were parasitized with the following helminths: Aporchis sp. (6.7%), Tetrabothrius cylindraceus (56.7%), Cyclophyllidea gen. sp. (3.3%), Profilicollis altmani (56.7%), Eucoleus contortus (10.0%), Cosmocephalus obvelatus (13.3%), Paracuaria adunca (10.0%), Stegophorus sp. (3.3%) and Tetrameres skrjabini (3.3%). To our knowledge, with the exception of P. altmani, these helminths are reported for first time in the Franklin's gull.

Resumo Existem escassos estudos de parasitismo em gaivota-de-Franklin Leucophaeus pipixcan, e o conhecimento sobre seus endoparasitas é ainda mais limitado. Com o objetivo de descrever sua comunidade parasitaria, um total de 60 gaivotas-de-Franklin foram capturadas usando-se armadilhas Bal-chatri numa zona costeira do centro do Chile. A pesquisa de ectoparasitas foi realizada em todos os indivíduos capturados e, para os endoparasitas, foram examinados 30 deles por necropsias. A prevalência de ectoparasitas foi de 78,3%, incluíndo o ácaro de pena Zachvatkinia larica (43,3%) e outras quatro espécies de piolhos, Actornithophilus piceus lari (15,0%), Austromenopon transversum (6,7%), Quadraceps punctatus (10,0%) e Saemundssonia lari (46,7%). Das aves necropsiadas, 83,3% estavam parasitadas por helmintos, sendo registrados Aporchis sp. (6,7%), Tetrabothrius cylindraceus (56,7%), Cyclophyllidea gen. sp. (3,3%), Profilicollis altmani (56,7%), Eucoleus contortus (10,0%), Cosmocephalus obvelatus (13,3%), Paracuaria adunca (10,0%), Stegophorus sp. (3,3%) e Tetrameres skrjabini (3,3%). Com exceção de P. altmani, este é o primeiro relato desses helmintos parasitando gaivotas-de-Franklin.

Morphological and molecular identification with frequency analysis of Calicophoron microbothrioides in central Chile / Identificação morfológica e molecular com análise de frequência de Calicophoron microbothrioides na região central do Chile

Abstract This research aimed to determine the presence of paramphistomids in cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse of the Ñuble Region of Chile, to identify flukes and to analyze the frequency of these parasites in the Maule, Ñuble, and Biobío administrative regions of Chile. Between October of 2016 and April of 2017, rumens of 494 cattle were examined for flukes in the forestomachs. Worms were identified morphologically and, in addition, molecular analysis of the internal transcriber spacer region 2 of the fluke's DNA was done and phylogenetic analyses were performed with Bayesian inference in 14 worms. The frequency was analyzed by locality (low- or highlands) and age. The overall frequency was 11.24%. The district with the highest frequency of presentation was Chillán Viejo (30.8%). Districts in the lowlands had similar frequencies to those in the mountain lands (p=0.1). The frequency of flukes was significantly higher in adult animals than in young ones (p<0.01). We obtained a 460 bp-length fragment of DNA that was identical to the sequences previously identified as Paramphistomum cervi and Calicophoron microbothrioides, and performed morphological analyses confirmed that our samples belonged to C. microbothrioides. This is the first published study of C. microbothrioides in Chile.

Resumo Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a presença de paramphistomídeos em bovinos abatidos em um matadouro da Região do Ñuble do Chile, para identificar parasitas e analisar a frequência desses parasitos nas regiões administrativas de Maule, Ñuble e Biobío, no Chile. Entre outubro de 2016 e abril de 2017, rúmens de 494 bovinos foram examinados à procura de vermes no pré-estômago. Os vermes foram identificados morfologicamente e, além disso, a análise molecular da região interna do espaçador do transcritor 2 do DNA e análises filogenéticas foram realizadas com inferência bayesiana em 14 vermes. A frequência foi analisada pela altitude da localidade (baixa ou alta) e idade. A frequência geral foi de 11,24%. O distrito com as maiores frequências de parasitismo foi Chillán Viejo (30,8%). Os distritos das terras baixas tinham frequências semelhantes às encontradas nas terras das montanhas (p=0,17). A frequência foi significativamente maior em animais adultos do que em jovens (p<0.01). Obtivemos um fragmento de DNA de 460 pb que era idêntico às sequências anteriores identificadas como Paramphistomum cervi e Calicophoron microbothrioides, e realizamos análises morfológicas que permitiram confirmar que nossas amostras pertenciam a C. microbothrioides. Este é o primeiro estudo publicado sobre C. microbothrioides no Chile.

Morphological and molecular identification with frequency analysis of Calicophoron microbothrioides in central Chile.

This research aimed to determine the presence of paramphistomids in cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse of the Ñuble Region of Chile, to identify flukes and to analyze the frequency of these parasites in the Maule, Ñuble, and Biobío administrative regions of Chile. Between October of 2016 and April of 2017, rumens of 494 cattle were examined for flukes in the forestomachs. Worms were identified morphologically and, in addition, molecular analysis of the internal transcriber spacer region 2 of the fluke's DNA was done and phylogenetic analyses were performed with Bayesian inference in 14 worms. The frequency was analyzed by locality (low- or highlands) and age. The overall frequency was 11.24%. The district with the highest frequency of presentation was Chillán Viejo (30.8%). Districts in the lowlands had similar frequencies to those in the mountain lands (p=0.1). The frequency of flukes was significantly higher in adult animals than in young ones (p<0.01). We obtained a 460 bp-length fragment of DNA that was identical to the sequences previously identified as Paramphistomum cervi and Calicophoron microbothrioides, and performed morphological analyses confirmed that our samples belonged to C. microbothrioides. This is the first published study of C. microbothrioides in Chile.