The helminthfauna of Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Iberian Peninsula. faunistic and ecological considerations

Abstract

Faunistic and ecological analysis of the helminthfauna of the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758), was undertaken in the Iberian Peninsula. For the first time the helminthfaunas of the two iberian subspecies (O. c. cuniculus and O. c. algirus) are detailed. Fifteen parasite species (1 Digenetic Trematode, 7 Cestodes and 7 Nematodes) were detected. The presence of Leporidotaenia spp, [Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae] is the distinguishable feature between both helminthfaunas. Moreover, qualitative and quantitative differences exist between the two hosts subspecies, often statistically significant. The effect of host sex on the helminthfauna of O. cuniculus in both populations seems to be low.