The helminth parasites of the wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculusand their effect on host condition in Dunas de Mira, Portugal

Abstract

AbstractThe present study focuses on the helminth parasite community of the wild rabbit in a sand dune area in Portugal over a 5-year period. The influence of host sex and year on the composition of the helminth community is assessed, along with the potential effect of the detected helminths on host body condition. The basic structure of the helminth community comprisesMosgovoyia ctenoides,Graphidium strigosum,Trichostrongylus retortaeformis,Nematodiroides zembraeandPassalurus ambiguus. Mean intensities ofG. strigosumvaried between years. GeneralG. strigosumintensities were also found to vary according to both year and host sex, but not according to the interaction of both factors. When assessing the effect of helminths on rabbit body condition (expressed by the kidney fat index), higher burdens ofM. ctenoides, a cestode that presents a relatively large body mass, were found to induce a reduction in rabbit condition.