Journal
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
Volume 113, Issue 10, Pages 3909-3912Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4136-x
Keywords
Den sharing; Host spectrum; Lesser horseshoe bat; Transmission of pathogens
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Defining the whole spectrum of potential hosts of a parasite has large epidemiological and evolutionary implications in biology. Specialized parasites might be able to occasionally exploit a range of different host species, increasing the individual survival and the chances of successful dispersal. For long time Paraceras melis has been considered a specific flea of European badger Meles meles. Anyway, it has occasionally been reported on different hosts. In this work, we summarize the host spectrum of P. melis from literature and we report its first detection on a bat host. Ten species were identified as occasional hosts, man included, and the plasticity of this flea in host exploitation is noteworthy because of possible increase of pathogens transmission to humans and domestic species.
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