Parassiti gastro-intestinali di Marmota marmota nell’arco alpino occidentale. Parasitic fauna of the digestive tract of Marmota marmota in the western Alps [Faune des parasites du tube digestif chez M. marmota des Alpes occidentales].

Résumé

Qualitative analysis of 181 faecal samples, quantitative analysis of other 154 from four study area at different altitude and the necropsy of 46 Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) were carried out with the double aim of realizing an inventory of the parasitic fauna of the digestive tract of this host in the Western Alps and studying the dynamic of the most prevalent parasitic infections. Three coccidia (provisionally named Eimeria type l, 2, and 3), two tapeworms (Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Ctenotaenia marmotae) and six nematodes (Ascaris laevis, Citellina alpina, Capillaria caudinflata, Ostertagia circumcincta/trifurcata, Nematodirus spathiger and an unidentified Spirurid) were found. C. marmotae, C. alpina and A. laevis appear as " dominant" species, whereas the other helminths represent "capture" ones. Prevalence, intensity and relative abundance of these parasites are reported. C. caudinflata and N. spathiger are signalled in M. marmota for the first time. A "spring rise" in Eimeria oocysts’ output was demonstrated and the highest risks of infection were found in late spring for C. marmotae and in the middle of summer for A. laevis. Helminth Parasites were absent or rare in young marmots.