02686nas a2200265 4500008004100000022002500041245023900066210006900305260001600374300000800390490000700398520172300405653001002128653000902138653001002147653001802157653002202175653002302197653002602220100002402246700003202270700002402302700002302326856007102349 2024 eng d a0165-2176, 1875-594100aParasitic findings on threatened pudu deer from Central Chile accounts first genetic characterization of lice parasitizing P. puda in Chile and the first molecular report of Taenia hydatigena metacestodes in this species0 aParasitic findings on threatened pudu deer from Central Chile ac cJan-19-2024 a1-80 v443 a

Southern pudu (Pudu puda) is a threatened endemic deer of the temperate forests of Chile. In recent years pudu populations rates have decreased mainly due to anthropogenic causes including forest loss and landscape fragmentation. In this context, the parasitic fauna of
Chilean pudu has been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the parasitic status of rescued pudu n = 13 from its natural habitat in Central Chile (Maule region) during March 2022 and June 2023 by applying morphological, histopathological, and molecular analyses. As result, we report the presence of transmission of parasites from dogs to pudus as showed by the presence of metacestodes of the parasite Taenia hydatigena on omentum, liver, and pleura of pudus during postmortem examinations, being the first molecular report on the presence of this parasite on Chilean pudu. Meanwhile, ectoparasite examinations determined the presence of chewing and sucking lice on pudu exemplars here analysed. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of lice revealed new insights on Bovicola and Anoplura lice parasitizing P. puda in Chile, equally being the first genetic characterization of lice parasitizing pudu
exemplars in Chile. In addition, parasite loads of lice and metacestodes were analysed. However, no statistically significance was observed when comparing environmental and individual traits influence on parasite load variation. Overall, the study area is the northern
limit of habitat distribution of this specie in Chile and we here provide novel information on pudu deer parasites, thus making a useful and valuable contribution to the parasitological knowledge on this threatened species.

10aChile10alice10alouse10aSouthern pudu10aTaenia hydatigena10aThreatened species10awildlife conservation1 aMuñoz-Caro, Tamara1 aGonzález, María, Fernanda1 aVillalobos, Rodrigo1 aHidalgo, Alejandro uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01652176.2024.2302027