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Conservation-induced extinction is where efforts to saveendangered species lead to the extinction of other species. This mostly threatens theparasite andpathogen species that are highly host-specific to critically endangered hosts. When the last individuals of a host species are captured for the purpose ofcaptive breeding and reintroduction programs, they typically undergo anti-parasitic treatments to increase survival and reproductive success. This practice may unintentionally result in the extinction of the species antagonistic to the target species, such as certain parasites. It has been proposed that the parasites should be reintroduced to the endangered population. A few cases of conservation-induced extinction have occurred in parasiticlice.[1]
An example would be ofStephanocircus domrowi, thegoblin flea, which is a critically endangered insect endemic to the Australian state ofVictoria.[2] It is host specific, and lives only with the co-endangeredLeadbeater's possum.[3] Most conservation efforts of the possum include cleaning its body of parasites to increase chances of survival for the host. Combined with the small size of possum population in the wild, the flea is now a critically endangered species. There has been proposals for its conservation, but none have been carried out.
| Extinct species | Host species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colpocephalum californici[4] (California condor louse) | California condor | The parasite most probably became extinct when the last individuals of its only host species were captured for a captive-breeding program; all parasites found were deliberately killed in an attempt to assist the host's survival.[5] |
| Felicola isidoroi[6] (Iberian lynx louse) | Iberian lynx | As withColpocephalum californici, likely became extinct when the last individuals of its host species were taken into captivity and deloused to assist survival. |
| Linognathus petasmatus | Scimitar-horned oryx | The host specificity of this parasite is uncertain. Either it was specific to the scimitar-horned oryx and became extinct during captive breeding of the host, or – alternatively – it may be specific to theaddax and possibly still surviving in the wild. |
| Rallicola guami | Guam rail | The only known host species of this parasite exists exclusively in captivity and kept under veterinary control. Little information about the fate of the parasite, likely extinct.[7] |
| Rallicola pilgrimi[8] | Little spotted kiwi | The parasite most probably became extinct when the last individuals of its only host species were captured and, after routine veterinary antiparasitic treatments, re-introduced into predator-free islands. |
Thetrichodectid louse of theblack-footed ferret has been mentioned in the literature several times[9] as a parasite that became extinct during the captive breeding program of the host. However, this parasite most probably never existed as a separate species fromNeotrichodectes minutus.[1]
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