Helminth communities of an introduced hare (Lepus granatensis) and a native hare (Lepus europaeus) in southern France

Abstract

We investigated the parasite communities introduced Iberian hares (Lepus granatens) and native European hares (Lepus europaeus) in southern France, where Iberian hares were introduced locally 20 yr ago as a game animal. Parasite communities of sympatric populations of the two hare species and of allopatric populations of European hares were compared. Iberian bares in France harbored a depauperate community of parasites relative to the population in its native habitat in Spain. European hares in areas of sympatry also were infected by Nematodiroides zembrae, which normally infects Iberian hares on their native range. © Wildlife Disease Association 2007.