Tungiasis in a southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) from Formosa province, Argentina.

Tunga penetrans causes tungiasis, a parasitic disease of humans and domestic animals. In this work we report the presence of tungiasis in the southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) from Formosa, Argentina. An individual of southern tamandua was found dead on the roadside and it presented lesions consisted with neosomes located on its four limbs. We identified neosomes as T. penetrans. Records of T. penetrans in wild mammals acquire relevance because monitoring wildlife could help prevent possible outbreaks of tungiasis and other zoonosis.

Fleas and lesions in armadillo osteoderms.

Armadillos are bitten by several species of flea. Females of the genus Tunga penetrate the epidermis and when in place are fertilised by males, after which the abdomen swells enormously to form a 'neosome'. Within the penetrans group, T. perforans, makes lesions that perforate the osteoderms within the integument to form ~3 mm diameter cavities occupied by a discoid neosome. We examined these lesions in carapace material from animals which had died in the wild to see whether we could recruit evidence as to how they may be generated, either by the insect or by the host. We studied one species without such lesions, the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus, and two species with, the greater hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus and the southern three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes matacus, both showing the characteristic 'flea bite' holes in the external surfaces of the osteoderms. Samples were studied by three-dimensional backscattered electron mode scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microtomography. Both methods showed resorption pit complexes in the external surfaces of the osteoderms characteristic of those made by osteoclasts in active bone resorption. Lesions involved both the syndesmoses (sutures) between adjacent bones and the central regions of the osteoderms. Many lesions showed extensive repair by infilling with new bone. We conclude that the T. perforans neosome creates a local host response which causes bone resorption, creating the space in which it can grow.

A new species of Wellcomia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) in the plains viscacha (Rodentia: Chinchillidae) from Argentina, an emended diagnosis and an update of the genus Wellcomia.

Wellcomia species (Oxyuridae, Syphaciinae) parasitise several families of rodents from Africa, Asia and America with diverse ecological characteristics. A new species of Wellcomia is described based on specimens obtained from the plains viscacha Lagostomus maximus (Chinchillidae) from Argentina. The description includes morphometric and ecological aspects and an emended diagnosis of the genus Wellcomia. In addition, a molecular characterisation (18S rRNA) and an exploratory analysis of the genetic distances of the species included in this genus are provided. The new species, Wellcomia hugoti n. sp., differs from other species of the genus in the morphology of the cephalic plate, the ventral rugose area in males and the vulva in females. The new species showed a low prevalence (7.7%) and a high mean abundance (73.8). The genetic distances detected do not allow a comprehensive assessment of the monophyly of the genus. This is the seventh record of this genus in rodents from the Americas, the second in rodents from Argentina and the first record for the family Chinchillidae.

Helminth fauna of the screaming hairy armadillo Chaetophractus vellerosus from Argentina: the consequence of host isolation on parasite diversity.

Chaetophractus vellerosus in Argentina has a north-west and central distribution. An isolated population is located in the east of the Buenos Aires province, separated from the population of central Argentina by about 500 km. We compared the component community of C. vellerosus between the main population in central Argentina and the isolated population, evaluating the impact of the host isolation on parasite diversity. Sixteen species of helminths were found, namely Ancylostoma caninum, Aspidodera fasciata, Aspidodera scoleciformis, Mazzia bialata, Pterygodermatites chaetophracti, Pterygodermatites argentinensis, Strongyloides sp., Trichohelix tuberculata, Cruzia tentaculata, Cyclobulura superinae, Delicata ransomi, Macielia jorgei, Moennigia celinae, Orihelia anticlava (Nematoda), Mathevotaenia sp. (Cestoda) and Travassosia sp. (Acanthocephala). Only the first 8 species, however, were present in both populations. Prevalences and intensities of the shared species were similar. The parasite community of the isolated population, however, was less rich and diverse than that of the main population. The poor parasite community in the isolated population could have several causes: the founding population was composed of few specimens that were only infected with the most prevalent parasite species and intermediate hosts for parasites with indirect cycles were absent. In addition, coexistence with another Chlamyphoridae would have contributed to maintaining a group of species that are usual in armadillos along their distribution.

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics.

Xenarthrans-anteaters, sloths, and armadillos-have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data.

Genetic structuring in a relictual population of screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus) in Argentina revealed by a set of novel microsatellite loci.

The screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus) is a mammal species containing disjunct and isolated populations. In order to assess the effect of habitat fragmentation and geographic isolation, we developed seven new microsatellite loci isolated from low-coverage genome shotgun sequencing data for this species. Among these loci, six microsatellites were found to be polymorphic with 8-26 alleles per locus detected across 69 samples analyzed from a relictual population of the species located in the northeast of the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Mean allelic richness and polymorphic information content were 15 and 0.75, with observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.40 to 0.67 and 0.58 to 0.90, respectively. All loci showed departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The analysis of population structure in this relictual population revealed three groups of individuals that are genetically differentiated. These newly developed microsatellites will constitute a very useful tool for the estimation of genetic diversity and structure, population dynamics, social structure, parentage and mating system in this little-studied armadillo species. Such genetic data will be particularly helpful for the development of conservation strategies for this isolated population and also for the endangered Bolivian populations previously recognized as a distinct species (Chaetophractus nationi).