@article {95046, title = {Sex interacts with age-dependent change in the abundance of lice-infesting Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis)}, journal = {Parasitology Research}, year = {2020}, month = {06-2021}, pages = {7 pp}, type = {Open Access https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06753-w}, abstract = {

Sex-biassed and age-biassed parasite infections are common in nature, including ectoparasites-vertebrate host systems. We investigated the effect of Amur Falcons\’ sex, age and body size on the abundance of their lice at a migratory stopover site, where the falcons\’ habitat use and behaviour are more homogeneous across sex and age categories than during the breeding season. We sampled Amur Falcons in Nagaland, India at major roosting sites in 2016. We applied generalized linear models (with negative binomial distribution and log-link) to model the abundance of their two most numerous lice (Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella rufa) using the host age category (juvenile or adult) and wing length, both in interaction with sex, as explanatory variables. The abundance of C. subzerafae was only affected by host age, being nearly four times higher on juveniles than on adults. Juveniles were also more infested with D. rufa than the adults. Additionally, the abundance of the latter species was lower on adult male Falcons as compared to adult females. A juvenile bias in ectoparasite infestations is common in nature, probably due to juveniles being immunologically na\ïve, more resource-limited and may be inexperienced in body maintenance behaviours like preening and grooming. On the other hand, female-biassed infestations are much rarer than male-biassed infestations. We briefly discuss the possible causes of female-biassed infestations on Amur Falcons reported here, and in the closely related Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel as reported in the literature.

}, keywords = {louse, Sex-biassed infestation}, issn = {0932-0113}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-020-06753-w}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00436-020-06753-w}, author = {Imre S{\'a}ndor Piross and Manju Siliwal and R. Suresh Kumar and P{\'e}ter Palatitz and Szabolcs Solt and P{\'e}ter Borb{\'a}th and N{\'o}ra Vili and N{\'o}ra Magonyi and Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Lajos R{\'o}zsa and Andrea Harnos and P{\'e}ter Feh{\'e}rv{\'a}ri} } @article {94963, title = {Sex-dependent changes in the louse abundance of red-footed falcons (Falco vespertinus)}, journal = {Parasitology Research}, volume = {119}, year = {2020}, month = {Jan-04-2020}, pages = {1327 - 1335}, abstract = {

Permanent ectoparasites live in stable environments; thus, their population dynamics are mostly adapted to changes in the host life cycle. We aimed to investigate how static and dynamic traits of red-footed falcons interplay with the dynamics of their louse subpopulations during breeding and how they affect the colonisation of new hosts by lice. We sampled red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) nestlings (two breeding seasons) and adults (one breeding season) in southern Hungary. The mean abundance of Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella rufa lice on the nestlings was modelled with generalized linear mixed models using clutch size and host sex in interaction with wing length. For adults, we used wing length and the number of days after laying the first egg, both in interaction with sex. D. rufa abundances increased with the nestlings\’ wing length. In one\ year, this trend was steeper on females. In adult birds, both louse species exhibited higher abundances on females at the beginning, but it decreased subsequently through the breeding season. Contrarily, abundances were constantly low on adult males. Apparently, D. rufa postpones transmission until nestlings develop juvenile plumage and choose the more feathered individual among siblings. The sexual difference in the observed abundance could either be caused by the different plumage, or by the females\’ preference for less parasitized males. Moreover, females likely have more time to preen during the incubation period, lowering their louse burdens. Thus, sex-biased infestation levels likely arise due to parasite preferences in the nestlings and host behavioural processes in the adult falcons.

}, keywords = {ecology, ectoparasite, Sex-biased infestation, Vertical transmission}, issn = {0932-0113}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-020-06634-2}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00436-020-06634-2}, author = {Imre S{\'a}ndor Piross and Szabolcs Solt and {\'E}va Horv{\'a}th and L{\'a}szl{\'o} Kotym{\'a}n and P{\'e}ter Palatitz and P{\'e}ter Bert{\'o}k and Szab{\'o}, Kriszti{\'a}n and N{\'o}ra Vili and Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Lajos R{\'o}zsa and Andrea Harnos and P{\'e}ter Feh{\'e}rv{\'a}ri} } @mastersthesis {94410, title = {Host-parasite relationship of birds (Aves) and lice (Phthiraptera) {\textendash} evolution, ecology and faunistics}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2014}, pages = {275 pp}, school = {Szent Istv{\'a}n Egyetem (Szent Istv{\'a}n University)}, address = {Budapest, Hungary}, abstract = {

The host-parasite relationship is one of the most complex and intimate associations in nature. In this thesis I present a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the host-parasite relationship of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) and their avian (and sometimes mammalian) hosts (Vertebrata: Aves, Mammalia). I apply both modern statistical methodologies of evolutionary comparative analysis and classical zoological methodologies such as sampling in the field for faunistical purposes.


The understanding of the diversity component of host-parasite relationships is a major and yet scarcely discovered field of evolutionary ecology. Here I present a review of the previous literature and three original studies published by myself and my co-authors concerning the factors that shape louse diversity at macroevolutionary level (Chapter 1). I show a positive co-variation found between avian cognitive capabilities and Amblyceran louse richness; a decrease in louse richness due to the brood-parasitic life-style of the hosts; and a positive diversity interaction between Ischnoceran louse richness and foster species richness of brood-parasitic cuckoos. The supposed positive co-variation between host and parasite diversity \– an assumption originating from Eichler (1942, the so called Eichler\’s rule) \– were revisited and tested for the first time with modern methodologies across a wide range of avian and mammalian hosts and their lice, and showed to be the strongest and most general diversity pattern of host-parasite evolution found so far.


Chapter 2 incorporates papers related to different aspects of louse faunistics as well as the review of their background. First, I summarize the Hungarian louse fauna based on formerly published records. Second, I report that this checklist was significantly extended by my own recent collections. The third paper is a methodological contribution that points out a formerly overlooked bias in currently widespread sampling projects: the handling of avian host individuals during the bird ringing procedure can reduce the louse burden. Finally, in the last paper I provide global checklist of critically endangered species of parasitic lice.

}, keywords = {Evolution, Host-parasite relationship}, url = {http://www.huveta.hu/bitstream/handle/10832/953/VasZoltan-D-E.pdf;jsessionid=AFF4DCBEB08C80DA827B93FBC41B255F?sequence=3}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @article {94236, title = {Avian brood parasitism and ectoparasite richness-scale-dependent diversity interactions in a three-level host-parasite system}, journal = {Evolution}, volume = {67}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-04-2013}, pages = {959 - 968}, abstract = {

Brood parasitic birds, their foster species and their ectoparasites form a complex coevolving system composed of three hierarchical levels. However, effects of hosts\’ brood parasitic life-style on the evolution of their louse (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) lineages have never been tested. We present two phylogenetic analyses of ectoparasite richness of brood parasitic clades. Our hypothesis was that brood parasitic life-style affects louse richness negatively across all avian clades due to the lack of vertical transmission routes. Then, narrowing our scope to brood parasitic cuckoos, we explored macroevolutionary factors responsible for the variability of their louse richness. Our results show that taxonomic richness of lice is lower on brood parasitic clades than on their nonparasitic sister clades. However, we found a positive covariation between the richness of cuckoos\’ Ischnoceran lice and the number of their foster species, possibly due to the complex and dynamic subpopulation structure of cuckoo species that utilize several host species. We documented diversity interactions across a three-level host parasite system and we found evidence that brood parasitism has opposing effects on louse richness at two slightly differing macroevolutionary scales, namely the species richness and the genera richness.

}, keywords = {host{\textendash}parasite evolution, Independent contrasts, macroevolution, parasite transmission, parasitism, Phthiraptera.}, doi = {10.1111/evo.2013.67.issue-410.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01837.x}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/evo.2013.67.issue-4}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Tibor Istv{\'a}n Fuisz and P{\'e}ter Feh{\'e}rv{\'a}ri and Jen{\H o} Reiczigel and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @inbook {94235, title = {Host correlates of diversification in avian lice}, booktitle = { Parasite diversity and diversification: evolutionary ecology meets phylogenetics}, year = {2015}, pages = {58-76}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, organization = {Cambridge University Press}, author = {Lajos R{\'o}zsa and Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @inbook {94234, title = {Under the changing climate: how shifting geographic distributions and sexual selection shape parasite diversification}, booktitle = {Parasite diversity and diversification: evolutionary ecology meets phylogenetics}, year = {2015}, pages = {58-76}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, organization = {Cambridge University Press}, author = {Lajos R{\'o}zsa and Tryjanowski,Piotr and Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @article {68970, title = {Louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infestations of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758) at Albertirsa, Hungary}, journal = {Ornis Hungarica}, volume = {21}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-01-2013}, pages = {33-37}, abstract = {

Abstract Colonial breeding birds such as the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), are per- fectly suited for ectoparasitological studies, as their elaborate social life and frequent body-to-body contacts in- duce high prevalence of louse (Phthiraptera) infestations. In this study we investigated a large breeding colony at Albertirsa, Hungary, and measured the louse burden of the breeding population. With more than 200 pairs nesting in the loess wall there, it may be Hungary\’s largest colony of European Bee-eaters. We sampled breeding birds and compared their louse burdens between age groups and sexes. We report the prevalence, mean and median in- tensity of infestations of the three louse species harboured by the Bee-eaters, and the results of louse burden com- parisons between age groups and sexes.

}, keywords = {Ectoparasite. lice, parasitism, preening}, doi = {10.2478/orhu-2014-0003}, url = {http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/orhu.2013.21.issue-2/orhu-2014-0003/orhu-2014-0003.xml}, author = {Kar{\'a}th, Kata and Tibor Istv{\'a}n Fuisz and Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @article {68908, title = {Louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infestations of the Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) and the Red-footed Falcon}, journal = {Ornis Hungarica}, volume = {23}, year = {2015}, pages = {58-65}, abstract = {

Little is known about the louse species harboured by Red-footed and Amur Falcons despite the fact that various life-history traits of these hosts make them good model species to study host-parasite interactions. We collected lice samples from fully grown Amur (n=20) and Red-footed Falcons (n=59), and from nestlings of Red-footed Falcons (n=179) in four countries: Hungary, India, Italy and South Africa. We identified 3 louse species on both host species, namely Degeeriella rufa, Colpocephalum subzerafae and Laembothrion tinnunculi. The latter species has never been found on these hosts. Comparing population parame\­ters of lice between hosts we found significantly higher prevalence levels of D. rufa and C. subzerafae on Amur Falcons. Adult Red-footed Falcons had higher D. rufa prevalence compared to C. subzerafae. For the first time we also show inter-annual shift in prevalence and intensity levels of these species on Red-footed Falcons; in 2012 on adult hosts C. subzerafae had higher intensity levels than D. rufa, however in 2014 D. rufa had significantly higher intensity compared to C. subzerafae. In case of nestlings both louse species had significantly higher preva\­lence levels than in 2014. The exact causes of such inter-annual shifts are yet to be understood.

}, keywords = {Colpocephalum subzerafae, Degeeriella rufa, descriptive statistics, ectoparasite, Laembothrion tinnunculi, lice}, doi = {10.1515/orhu-2015-0005}, url = {http://www.ornis.hu/articles/OrnisHungarica_vol23(1)_p58-65.pdf}, author = {Imre S{\'a}ndor Piross and P{\'e}ter Feh{\'e}rv{\'a}ri and Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Szabolcs Solt and {\'E}va Horv{\'a}th and P{\'e}ter Palatitz and Cristina Giosele and Marco Gustin and Mario Pedrelli and R. Suresh Kumar and Nick P. Williams and Rina Pretorious and Zephne Bernitz and Herman Bernitz and Andrea Harnos} } @article {68821, title = {Co-extinct and critically co-endangered species of parasitic lice, and conservation-induced extinction: should lice be reintroduced to their hosts?}, journal = {Oryx}, volume = {49}, year = {2015}, pages = {107{\textendash}110}, type = {Short Communication}, abstract = {

The co-extinction of parasitic taxa and their host species is considered a common phenomenon in the current global extinction crisis. However, information about the conservation status of parasitic taxa is scarce. We present a global list of co-extinct and critically co-endangered parasitic lice (Phthiraptera), based on published data on their host-specificity and their hosts\’ conservation status according to the IUCN Red List. We list six co-extinct and 40 (possibly 41) critically co-endangered species. Additionally, we recognize 2\–4 species that went extinct as a result of conservation efforts to save their hosts. Conservationists should consider preserving host-specific lice as part of their efforts to save species.

}, keywords = {co-extinction, Conservation-induced extinction, critically co-endangered, lice, parasites}, issn = {0030-6053}, doi = {10.1017/S0030605313000628}, url = {https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/68821.pdf}, author = {Lajos R{\'o}zsa and Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @article {68778, title = {New species and host association records for the Hungarian avian louse fauna (Insecta: Phthiraptera)}, journal = {Ornis Hungarica}, volume = {20}, year = {2012}, month = {01/2012}, pages = {44-49}, abstract = {

A recently published checklist of Hungarian louse fauna (Insecta: Phthiraptera) listed 279 species and subspecies which have been recorded in Hungary. According to that checklist several louse species
still await detection in Hungary, and many of the previously reported louse species have not been found on all expected host species yet. Our faunistical survey on avian lice started in 2005 at \Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, resulting hundreds of ectoparasite samples collected from over 70 bird species. Additionally, our louse collection has grown by collecting samples in other research projects focusing on various bird species, and by sampling cadavers before taxidermy in the Bird Collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. As the results of a preliminary exploration of this collection, we list 20 louse species which are new to the Hungarian fauna, as well as the first Hungarian records of 17 host-parasite associations. We also found 3 louse-bird association records new for the World fauna.

Abstract (in Hungarian)\ \Összefoglal\ás:

A tetvek rendj\ének (Insecta: Phthiraptera) hazai faunalist\ája 279 tet{\H u}faj \és alfaj el{\H o}fordul\ás\ár\ól sz\ámol be. A faunalista szerint sz\ámos tov\ábbi tet{\H u}faj fordul el{\H o} nagy val\ósz\ín{\H u}s\éggel Magyarorsz\ágon, \és a m\ár megtal\ált tet{\H u}fajok jelent{\H o}s r\észe sem ker\ült m\ég el{\H o} valamennyi v\árhat\ó gazdafaj\ár\ól. A madarakon \él{\H o}sk\öd{\H o} tetvek faunisztikai kutat\ás\át 2005-ben az \Ócsai Mad\árv\árt\án kezdt\ük, ahol t\öbb mint 70 mad\árfaj ektoparazit\áit mintav\ételezt\ük. A t\öbb sz\áz, \Ócs\án gy{\H u}jt\ött minta mellett m\ás mad\ártani kutat\ások keret\ében is gy{\H u}jt\ött\ünk k\üls{\H o} \él{\H o}sk\öd{\H o}ket, illetve a Magyar Term\észettudom\ányi M\úzeum Mad\árgy{\H u}jtem\ény\ében is vett\ünk mint\ákat a prepar\ál\ásra el{\H o}k\ész\ített mad\ártetemekr{\H o}l. A gy{\H u}jt\ött mint\ák el{\H o}zetes feldolgoz\ása sor\án magyar faun\ára \új 20 tet{\H u}fajt, \és Magyarorsz\ágon eddig nem jegyzett 17 gazda-parazita kapcsolatot dokument\áltunk. Eredm\ényeink k\özt tov\ábbi 3, a nemzetk\özi irodalomb\ól eddig ismeretlen gazda-parazita kapcsolatr\ól is besz\ámolunk.

}, keywords = {bird, ectoparasite, faunistics, lice, parasitism}, doi = {10.2478/orhu-2013-0004}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/68778.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Privigyei, Csaba and Proh{\'a}szka, Viola Judit and Cs{\"o}rg{\H o},Tibor and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @article {68777, title = {Relationship between sexual signals and louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infestation of breeding and migrating Barn swallows ( Hirundo rustica ) in Hungary}, journal = {Ornis Hungarica}, volume = {20}, year = {2012}, month = {06/2012}, pages = {37-43}, abstract = {

Lice (Phthiraptera) chew characteristic holes on the remiges and rectrices of Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). The number of these holes correlate positively with the intensity of louse infestation, hence hole counts are useful to quantify lousiness. Several papers showed that lice affect both life expectancy and reproductive success of hosts. In male Barn swallows, the length of the outermost tail feathers act as a sexual signal. Females prefer long-tailed males, which have significantly fewer feather holes. In this study we sampled breeding and migrating Barn swallows and compared their louse burden, and the relationship between tail length and the number of feather holes. We found significant negative correlation between feather holes and tail length in breeding males; however, we found non-significant correlation in migrating males. We suggest that attractive males have more physical interactions (e.g. extra-pair copulation) during the breeding season, than less attractive males, hence they are more exposed to louse transmission, and therefore the difference in the infestation declines towards the end of the breeding season. However, given that migrating swallow groups include colonial and solitary breeding birds, it cannot be excluded that a potentially different louse distribution on solitary breeding birds may contribute to the results.

(Abstract in Hungarian) \Összefoglal\ás

A f\üsti fecsk\ék (Hirundo rustica) evez{\H o}- \és faroktollain a tolltetvek (Phthiraptera) karakterisztikus lyukakat r\ágnak. A toll-lyukak sz\áma korrel\ál a tolltet{\H u} fert{\H o}z\ötts\ég intenzit\ás\ával, \így a toll-lyukak megsz\ámol\ás\ával a fert{\H o}z\ötts\ég j\ól becs\ülhet{\H o}. A magasabb tolltet{\H u} fert{\H o}z\ötts\égi intenzit\ás a f\üsti fecsk\ék t\úl\él\ési \és szaporod\ási es\élyeit is cs\ökkenti. A hosszabb sz\éls{\H o} faroktoll\ú f\üsti fecske h\ímek kev\ésb\é fert{\H o}z\öttek, mint a r\övidebb fark\úak, \így a sz\éls{\H o} faroktollak hossza a fert{\H o}z\ötts\ég megb\ízhat\ó jelz\ések\ént szolg\álhat a toj\ók sz\ám\ára. Munk\ánkban vizsg\áltuk, hogy a k\ölt\ési id{\H o}szak sor\án, a vonul\ási id{\H o}szakra megv\áltozik-e a k\ölt{\H o} popul\áci\ókban kimutatott negat\ív korrel\áci\ó a szexu\ális szign\álok \és a tolltet{\H u}-fert{\H o}z\ötts\ég k\öz\ött. K\ölt\ési id{\H o}szakban \és vonul\ási id{\H o}szakban jel\ölt f\üsti fecsk\éken \összehasonl\ítottuk a toll-lyukak gazdaegyedek k\öz\ötti eloszl\ás\át, a fert{\H o}z\ötts\ég m\ér{\H o}sz\ámait \és \öszszef\ügg\és\ét a szexu\ális szign\álok kifejezetts\ég\ével. A k\ölt{\H o} h\ímekn\él negat\ív korrel\áci\ót tal\áltunk a farokhossz \és a toll-lyukak sz\áma k\özt, a vonul\ó h\ímekn\él azonban ez az \összef\ügg\és nem volt kimutathat\ó. Hipot\ézis\ünk szerint a k\ölt\ési id{\H o}szak sor\án a \„vonz\óbb\” h\ímek gyakrabban \és t\öbb fajt\árssal ker\ülnek fi zikai kontaktusba, mint \„kev\ésb\é vonz\ó\” t\ársaik, \így ezek sor\án nagyobb es\ély\ük van tolltetvekkel fert{\H o}z{\H o}dni, ez\által a k\ölt\ési id{\H o}szak elej\én l\év{\H o} fert{\H o}z\ötts\égbeli k\ül\önbs\ég a vonul\ási id{\H o}szakra lecs\ökkenhet. Ugyanakkor a mint\ák k\ül\önb\öz{\H o} \összet\étele (a vonul\ó csapatokhoz mag\ányosan k\ölt{\H o} madarak is t\ársulnak) is hozz\áj\árulhat a kapott eredm\ényhez.Abstract in Hungary:

}, keywords = {ectoparasites; lice; feather holes; extra-pair copulation; sexual selection}, doi = {10.2478/orhu-2013-0003}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/68777.pdf}, author = {G{\'a}l, Enik{\H o} and Cs{\"o}rg{\H o},Tibor and Zolt{\'a}n Vas} } @article {61700, title = {A checklist of lice of Hungary (Insecta: Phthiraptera)}, journal = {Annales historico-naturales Musei nationalis hungarici}, volume = {104}, year = {2012}, pages = {5-109}, abstract = {

A checklist of louse species and subspecies collected from wild or domestic (exotic pets excluded) birds and mammals including humans in Hungary since 1945 is provided. The list is based on formerly published data and includes 279 louse species and subspecies. Their hosts represent 156 bird and 30 mammal species. Additionally, further 550 louse species (and subspecies) are also listed, whose occurrence is likely as judged from geographic and host distribution but have not been detected yet. This paper presents the most complete review of the Hungarian louse fauna.

}, keywords = {birds, ectoparasites, host association, louse, mammals}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61700.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and J. R{\'e}k{\'a}si and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @article {61699, title = {Avian brood parasitism and ectoparasite richness-scale-dependent diversity interactions in a three-level host-parasite system}, journal = {Evolution}, volume = {67}, year = {2012}, month = {04/2013}, pages = {959 - 968}, abstract = {

Brood parasitic birds, their foster species and their ectoparasites form a complex coevolving system composed of three hierarchical levels. However, effects of hosts\’ brood parasitic life-style on the evolution of their louse (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) lineages have never been tested. We present two phylogenetic analyses of ectoparasite richness of brood parasitic clades. Our hypothesis was that brood parasitic life-style affects louse richness negatively across all avian clades due to the lack of vertical transmission routes. Then, narrowing our scope to brood parasitic cuckoos, we explored macroevolutionary factors responsible for the variability of their louse richness. Our results show that taxonomic richness of lice is lower on brood parasitic clades than on their nonparasitic sister clades. However, we found a positive covariation between the richness of cuckoos\’ Ischnoceran lice and the number of their foster species, possibly due to the complex and dynamic subpopulation structure of cuckoo species that utilize several host species. We documented diversity interactions across a three-level host parasite system and we found evidence that brood parasitism has opposing effects on louse richness at two slightly differing macroevolutionary scales, namely the species richness and the genera richness.

}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01837.x}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61699.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Tibor Istv{\'a}n Fuisz and P{\'e}ter Feh{\'e}rv{\'a}ri and Jen{\H o} Reiczigel and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @article {61622, title = {Clever birds are lousy: Co-variation between avian innovation and the taxonomic richness of their amblyceran lice}, journal = {International Journal for Parasitology}, volume = {41}, year = {2011}, month = {10/2011}, pages = {1295 - 1300}, abstract = {

Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are ectoparasites that reduce host life expectancy and sexual attractiveness. Their taxonomic richness varies considerably among their hosts. Previous studies have already explored some important factors shaping louse diversity. An unexplored potential correlate of louse taxonomic richness is host behavioural flexibility. In this comparative study, we examine the relationship between louse generic richness, innovative capabilities (as a proxy for behavioural flexibility), and brain size while controlling for host species diversity, phylogeny, body size and research effort. Using data for 108 avian families, we found a highly ignificant positive relationship between host innovative capabilities and the taxonomic richness of amblyceran lice, but a lack of a similar relationship in ischnoceran lice. Host brain size had only a marginal impact on amblyceran diversity and no correlation with ischnoceran diversity. This suggests that the effect in Amblycera is not mediated by metabolic limitations due to the energetic costs of brain size and maintenance, rather directly caused by the ecological differences between hosts with differing cognitive capabilities. We propose four alternative and mutually non-exclusive hypotheses that may explain this phenomenon.

}, issn = {00207519}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.07.011}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61622.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Lefebvre,L. and Kevin P. Johnson and Jen{\H o} Reiczigel and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @article {61621, title = {Evolutionary co-variation of host and parasite diversity{\textemdash}the first test of Eichler{\textquoteright}s rule using parasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)}, journal = {Parasitology Research}, volume = {111}, year = {2012}, month = {7/2012}, pages = {393 - 401}, abstract = {The taxonomic richness of lice (Phthiraptera) varies considerably among their avian and mammalian hosts. Previous studies explored some factors shaping louse diversity; however, the so-called Eichler{\textquoteright}s rule{\textemdash}according to which taxonomic richness of parasites co-varies with that of their hosts{\textemdash}has never been tested. Our study incorporates all families of birds and mammals and the whole order of lice to test this co-variation, thus we present the widest taxonomic range to test any correlates of louse richness. Louse richness data were controlled for uneven sampling effort. We used the method of independent contrasts to control for phylogenetic effects. We found a strong correlation between the species richness of avian and mammalian families and generic richness of their lice. We discuss some alternative macroevolutionary and macroecological hypotheses that may explain this phenomenon that may well be a general feature of parasitism and it seems possible that this effect contribute considerably to global biodiversity.}, issn = {Online:1432-1955, Print:0932-0113}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-012-2850-9}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61621.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Csorba,G{\'a}bor and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} } @article {61239, title = {Ringing procedure can reduce the burden of feather lice in barn swallows Hirundo rustica}, journal = {Acta Ornithologica}, volume = {45}, year = {2010}, month = {2010}, pages = {203-207}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61239.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Tibor Istv{\'a}n Fuisz} } @article {48303, title = {The Feather Holes on the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica and Other Small Passerines are Probably Caused by Brueelia Spp. Lice}, journal = {Journal of Parasitology}, volume = {94}, year = {2008}, month = {2008}, pages = {1438 - 1440}, abstract = {

Barn swallows Hirundo rustica often have characteristic feather holes on wing and tail feathers. During the past 15 yr, several influential papers have been based on the assumption that these holes were chewed by the louse Machaerilaemus malleus. We gathered feather-hole data from barn swallows and other passerines at 2 sites in Hungary and correlated the presence of holes with louse infestations and, more specifically, with the occurrence of M. malleus versus other species of avian lice. The shape of frequency distribution of holes was left biased, and this bias was more pronounced in large swallow colonies that in a random sample, in accordance with the view that the causative agent of the \‘feather hole symptom\’ is a contagious macroparasite. However, both intra- and interspecific comparisons suggest that the causative agent of the symptom had probably been misidentified. The occurrence of Brueelia spp. \‘wing lice\’ provides the best fit to the distribution and abundance of feather holes, both in barn swallows and across some other small passerines. This identification error does not challenge the results of the former evolutionary\–ecological studies based on this model system, although it has important implications fromthe viewpoint of louse biology.

}, url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/47447.pdf}, author = {Zolt{\'a}n Vas and Cs{\"o}rg{\H o},Tibor and Anders Pape M{\o}ller and Lajos R{\'o}zsa} }