Suchergebnisse

Introductions of the rabbit flea, Spilopsyllus cuniculi
(Dale), were made on an island (3.1 km2) of the
Kerguelen subantarctic archipelago in January and December 1987. Despite a
small founding population, the species succeeded in establishing itself. Three
years after introduction, the rate of spread was 614 ± 133 m (between
1990 and 1993). Despite the subantarctic climate of Kerguelen, the burdens
were similar to those noted in habitats favourable to this ectoparasite. The
flea burden of adult rabbits after colonisation of the whole island was higher
for pregnant females (182 ± 21, n = 98)
than for non-pregnant ones (85 ± 16, n =
68) or males (20 ± 3, n = 116). The
circulation of myxoma virus, present on this island for several decades, has
been favoured by the flea. As a result, the proportion of rabbits with
antibodies rose from 34% before introduction of the flea to 85%
in 1998. Moreover, the introduction of fleas has changed the relative
proportions of both adult males and females with antibodies. Those proportions
were not different before the introduction but more males than females showed
antibodies when the flea colonised the whole island. Finally, the prospects of
the introduction of Spilopsyllus cuniculi on the main
island of the archipelago are discussed.