Frequency of furuncles by Cuterebra baeri in Alouatta palliata aequatorialis, Soberanía National Park, Panama

Abstract

Cuterebra baeri is considered the biological controller of populations of the genus Alouatta, producing furuncular cutaneous myiasis. Our objective was to study the frequency of furuncular cutaneous myiasis by C. baeri in groups of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata aequatorialis). The variation in the frequency of furuncular cutaneous myiasis by month, body zone, age and sex were evaluated. To search for the groups, a linear transect without distance estimation was established along the Pipeline Road trail at the Soberanía National Park, where direct searches were made in the canopy and indirect searches by smell of feces and Azimuth through vocalizations. We performed 44 Focal Animals (FA), with an observation time of 440 min. A total of 123 boils were counted in 36 of 44 focal animals, where the groups presented a mean incidence of boils of X 2.7±SD 1.5 and a prevalence of X 73.8±SD 0.3. No differences were found in the frequency of furuncular cutaneous myiasis by month (Chi2: 2.4194, gl: 4, p: 0.6591), nor by age (Z: -0.1209, p: 0.9038). A difference was found in the frequency of furuncular cutaneous myiasis by sex (Z: 2.37604, p: 0.0175) and by body area (Chi2: 108.4187, gl: 7, p: <.0001*). Our results support the constant presence of C. baeri in the groups of A. p. aequatorialis, confirming once again its role as biological controller of the populations of the genus Alouatta. The evaluation of microclimatic variables (temperature and rainfall) is recommended to determine their influence on the successful development of the C. baeri pupae.