Bat ectoparasites (Diptera: Streblidae and Acari: Spinturnicidae) from an urban area in the Amazon-Cerrado transition

Abstract

Parasites significantly influence ecosystems by controlling host populations and spreading diseases, thereby impacting ecological balances. In the Neotropics, hematophagous bat flies and mites are common ectoparasites of bats. The state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, hosts a diverse bat fauna across its Amazon Forest, Cerrado, and Pantanal habitats. We described bat flies and wing mites associated with bats in an urban area in the Amazon-Cerrado transition. Despite the expected diversity of bat in the study area, we expect to find a low number of ectoparasites species, as urban areas are typically associated with reduced parasite diversity. Bats were captured using mist nets, and ectoparasites collected manually or with tweezers and identified under the stereomicroscope. We found 10 species of ectoparasites (seven bat flies and three wingmites) from 181 bats across 22 species. The study found low ectoparasite diversity, possibly due to the small number of bats captured or the constraints found in the urban environment. Most observed bat-ectoparasite associations were consistent with previous studies, but some unexpected associations suggested possible contamination or transient relationships. This research fills a gap in the knowledge of bat ectoparasites in Mato Grosso, contributing to understanding bat-ectoparasite dynamics in diverse habitats.