Tricholiperus lipeurides (Mégnin 1884) in Mazama temama (Kerr 1792): first case report in Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To identify the taxonomy of lice of the family Trichodectidae present in a captive population of M. temama.
Methodology: Lice were collected from 15 red brocket (Temazate) deer (M. temama) in captivity at the Unit for the Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use of Wildlife El Pochote, Ixtaczoquiltan, Veracruz, Mexico. The deer were sedated and inspected in the ventral and inguinal zone, ears and tail to collect the lice, which were observed with bright field microscopy and electron microscopy. Then, with the use of taxonomic keys, lice were identified up to species.
Results: A total of 155 lice identified as Tricholiperus lipeuroides were collected in 8 females and 7 males of M. temama. The prevalence was 60% (9 out of 15 deer had lice) at an average abundance of 10 lice per deer. The inguinal and ventral zone were the areas of the body where most of the collected lice were detected.

Implications: This study expands the knowledge about ectoparasites in M. temama in
captivity, recording for the first time the association of the chewing louse T. lipeuroides
with this species of deer. The deer analyzed did not present clinical signs such as hair
loss. This information is not yet reported in other studies; there are no previous case
reports for Mexico.
Conclusions: The presence of T. lipeuroides in M. temama is reported for the first time
in the UMA El Pochote, Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz, Mexico. Since M. temama shares
some areas of the enclosures in the UMA with O. virginianus, the Temazate became a
host of T. lipeuroides.