Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the parasite burdens of rock dassies (Procavia capensis Pallas, 1766) in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Seasonal variation in the densities of parasites of dassies and variation in these densities between sexes were determined. Female dassies showed significant seasonal differences in tick and biting lice densities. In comparison with males, female dassies had significantly higher densities of biting lice during the summer. With the exception of biting lice, juveniles had significantly higher ectoparasite densities than adults when compared on a monthly basis. No significant seasonal differences in endoparasite densities for the different sexes were evident. In comparison with the endoparasite densities of adults and sub-adults, juveniles had significantly higher densities of Crossophorus collaris and Nouvelnema cyclophoron. Seasonal variation in parasitic densities between the sexes is interpreted in terms of the physiological condition and social organization of dassies.

Seisoenale variasie in die parasietdigthede van dassies asook verskille tussen geslagte is ondersoek. Wyfiedassies het betekenisvolle seisoenale verskille getoon ten opsigte van bosluis-en bytende luisdigthede. In vergelyking met mannetjies het wyfiedassies betekenisvolle hoër digthede bytende luise gedurende die somer. Met die uitsondering van bytende luise het jong dassies betekenisvolle hoër maandelikse ektoparasietdigthede vergeleke met volwassenes. Geen betekenisvolle seisoenale verskille in endoparasietdigthede tussen die geslagte kon geidentifiseer word nie. In vergelyking met die endoparasietdigthede van volwassenes en sub-volwassenes het jong dassies betekenisvolle hoër digthede van Crossophorus collaris en Nouvelnema cyclophoron. Seisoenale variasie in parasietdigthede tussen die geslagte word ge'lnterpreteer in terme van die fisiologiese kondisie en sosiale organisasie van dassies.