Ecto- and endoparasites of brown bears living in an extreme environment, the Gobi Desert, Mongolia

We report the first survey of ecto- and endoparasites of brown bears (Ursus arctos gobiensis) in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. We collected 40 ticks from 1 female (21 yr old, 48 kg) and 2 males (10 yr, 155 kg; 5 yr, 108 kg) captured for research purposes in May 2018. We found Dermacentor nutalli (n = 35 ticks, 87.5%) on both male bears and Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 5 ticks, 12.5%) on one male. The female had no ticks. We also collected a fecal sample from each captured bear, and an additional 15 fecal samples in the field. Two (11%) of the 18 fecal samples collected contained eggs of Strongyloides spp.; 1 fecal (10-yr-old male) sample had 2 eggs, and 1 fecal sample collected in the field contained 1 egg. This is the first documentation of parasites of wild bears in Mongolia.

Automated summary

This study presents the first survey of ecto- and endoparasites in brown bears in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The findings include the presence of Dermacentor nutalli and Hyalomma asiaticum ticks, as well as eggs of Strongyloides spp. parasites.