Abstract

The parasites of 40 Lepus europaeus (hares) were analyzed (20 of the Ñuble Province and 20 of Ultima Esperanza) caught between January 2003 and August 2004. In the Ñuble province three endoparasites species were isolated: Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (60%), Passalurus ambiguus (5%) and Eimeria spp. (45%). In Ultima Esperanza only T. retortaeformis was isolated with 60% of infection. The ectoparasite species isolated corresponded to the Phthiraptera Haemodipsus lyriocephalus in a hare of the Ñuble Province. No significant differences in the presence of gastrointestinal parasites were found with respect to sex and age of the hare. Nor was there any significant difference between parasitism of T. retortaeformis in the two studied zones.