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Interaction of ectoparasites (Mesostigmata, Phthiraptera and Siphonaptera) with small mammals in Cerrado fragments, western Brazil

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Abstract

We describe ectoparasite fauna associated with small mammals in fragments of Cerrado biome, central-western Brazil. We analyzed the level of associations and the aggregation patterns according to seasonal and host variations. Small mammals were systematically captured in 54 woodland fragments from February 2012 to July 2013. A total of 1040 animals belonging to eight marsupial and 12 rodent species were sampled; 354 individuals were parasitized by 33 ectoparasite species (twenty five Mesostigmata, seven Phthiraptera and one Siphonaptera). A total of 49 ecological relationships between ectoparasites and small mammals were observed, 24 being new association records. The overall specialization index of all ectoparasites and host species was 0.91 with significant deviation from a random host-parasite association, suggesting a high host-parasite specialization in this system. Specialization indices for ectoparasites ranged from moderate to high, while among host was high, for most species. Contrary to the overall pattern, some ectoparasites had higher prevalence and mean intensity of infestation in the dry season. Overall, ectoparasite prevalence and mean intensity of infestation were not significantly associated with host gender. This study provides significant information about the ectoparasites ecology in relation to specificity, seasonality and hosts gender, contributing to the understanding of host-parasite relationships in Brazilian savannah.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks to staff of the Laboratory of Ecology and Biogeography of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria for help in the fieldwork, the owners of areas sampled for allowing the realization of the research, and Michel P. Valim and Pedro M. Linardi for their assistance in Phthiraptera and Siphonaptera identification, respectively. We are grateful for scholarships granted by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) to JS, GLM and GAL. We are also grateful to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the financial support (Edital Universal 2011, Processo 470324/2011-2) given to NCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97110-970, Brazil

    Jonas Sponchiado

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, CCBS, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, CP 549, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil

    Geruza L. Melo

  3. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, 23890-000, Brazil

    Gabriel A. Landulfo

  4. Instituto Butantan, Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil

    Fernando C. Jacinavicius & Darci M. Barros-Battesti

  5. Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97110-970, Brazil

    Jonas Sponchiado, Geruza L. Melo & Nilton C. Cáceres

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Sponchiado, J., Melo, G.L., Landulfo, G.A. et al. Interaction of ectoparasites (Mesostigmata, Phthiraptera and Siphonaptera) with small mammals in Cerrado fragments, western Brazil. Exp Appl Acarol 66, 369–381 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-015-9917-0

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