Abstract:

Ectoparasites are the insects that infest mammalian, avian and reptilian hosts and play a role as vectors for numerous diseases or decrease the life quality. In this study, the existence of potential new records for ectoparasite samples brought to our laboratory was investigated. Ectoparasite samples were collected from totally seven wild mammals which three of them captive in Turkey. After all samples were kept in 70% ethanol for a day, they were identified under the light microscope with preparation slides or directly under the stereomicroscope. Examination of the ectoparasite samples resulted as the species of Haemaphysalis erinacei from brown bear Lipoptena cervi from red deer Rhipicephalus sanguineus from lion, tiger and striped hyena and Nosopsyllus fasciatus from Caucasian squirrel. As the result of data and prior investigations, all ectoparasite samples detected in this study have been before reported from Turkey. However, all these are the first host records for Turkish fauna. Because of the limited data and limited studies on the parasite species of wild mammals in Turkey, these ectoparasites are reported as new host records for Turkey.

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