Abstract
Abstract We measured prevalence of malaria infection and prevalence and intensity of chigger infection in Yarrow's spiny lizards (Sceloporus jarrovii) from three sites in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Our primary objective was to compare parasite load among sites, sexes, and reproductive classes. We also compared our findings to those of previous studies on malaria and chiggers in S. jarrovii from the same area. Of lizards examined, 85 and 93% were infected by malaria and chiggers, respectively. Prevalence of malaria was two times higher than previously reported for the same area, while prevalence of chiggers was similar to previous findings. Intensity of chigger infection was variable among sites, but not among reproductive classes. The site with the highest intensity of chigger infection also had the most vegetative cover, suggesting that this habitat was more favorable for non-parasitic adult chiggers.
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