Ectoparasites can cause important skin disorders in animals and can also transmit pathogens. The Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus has been stated to be the most endangered felid in the world and such vector-borne pathogens may threaten its survival. We surveyed 98 wild carnivores (26 Iberian lynxes, 34 red foxes Vulpes vulpes, 24 Egyptian mongooses Herpestes ichneumon, 11 common genets Genetta genetta, two Eurasian badgers Meles meles, one polecat Mustela putorius) and 75 domestic but free-ranging carnivores (46 cats Felis catus, 29 dogs Canis familiaris) from June 2004 to June 2006 in the two areas where the last lynx metapopulations survive: Sierra Morena and Doñana (Andalusia, southern Spain). A total of 65% of lynxes were parasitized (50% by ticks, 19% by fleas, 4% by lice, 31% by hippoboscid flies), as were 75% of foxes (58%, 60%, 0%, 19%), 71% of mongooses (50%, 4%, 46%, 0%), 54% of genets (18%, 36%, 0%, 0%), 30% of cats (22%, 14%, 0%, 2%), and 7% of dogs (surveyed only for ticks). Both badgers presented ticks, fleas and lice. Five species of ixodid ticks (Rhipicephalus pusillus Gil Collado, Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev and Matikashvili, Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus), Ixodes hexagonus Leach and Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado; and Hyalomma sp.), four species of fleas (Ctenocephalides canis Curtis, Pulex irritans Linnaeus, Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale), Xenopsylla cunicularis Smit), three species of chewing lice (Felicola (Felicola) inequalis (Piaget), Trichodectes (Trichodectes) melis (Fabricius), and Felicola (Lorisicola) isidoroi Pérez and Palma), and one species of hippoboscid fly (Hippobosca longipennis (Fabricius)) were found. We did not detect any cases of mange. Hippobosca longipennis is a new record for Spanish wildlife, and all the flea species are new records for the Iberian lynx. Fleas were more frequent on lynxes and foxes in winter than in spring. Rhipicephalus spp. were more frequent on cats in spring than in any other season. These and other epidemiological findings are discussed with respect to the conservation of the Iberian lynx.

We compared the ectoparasite fauna of 89 wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) from four hunting estates and 25 farm-reared partridges from three farms. We found 62% of the wild but only 20% of the farmed partridges harboured ectoparasites. On the wild partridges, one hippoboscid fly species (Ornithophila metallica, 2%), two tick species (Ixodes frontalis, 2%; Hyalomma sp., 17%) and eight louse species were found (Menacanthus lyali, 3%; M. numidae, 3%; Menopon pallens, 21%; Myrsidea picae, 1%; Goniocotes obscurus, 17%; G. simillimus, 1%; Goniodes dispar, 35%; Cuclotogaster obscurior, 28%). Only two louse species (G. obscurus, 8%; C. obscurior, 20%) were found on farmed partridges. Lice prevalence, abundance and species richness were higher in wild birds (44%, 17.0, 1.1) than in farmed partridges (20%, 1.3, 0.3). Lice prevalence and abundance were higher in dead-found (54%, 21.6) than in shot (23%, 2.3) or live-trapped wild partridges (no lice). Tick prevalence and abundance was higher in live-trapped (100%, 1.14) than in dead-found (13%, 0.5) or shot partridges (7%, 0.1). In dead-found partridges, the total louse prevalence and abundance, the number of louse species and the abundance of G. dispar, G. obscurus, C. obscurior and M. pallens were negatively correlated with partridge body condition; and this correlation for G. dispar abundance was more pronounced in juveniles than in adult partridges. Since juvenile individuals were also more parasitised by C. obscurior and Hyalomma sp., an acquired immunity against arthropods seems to be relevant. Released partridges are not a source of new ectoparasites, but these birds may come into contact with many arthropod species with which they had no previous contact.