Taxonomia e ecologia da parasitofauna de morcegos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) em áreas de Mata Atlântica no Brasil

Abstract

Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) and Desmodus rotundus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Atlantic Forest in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil were collected in three different areas, in two rainy seasons (2012 and 2013). Thoracic and abdominal organs, eye, mesentery and skin of the hosts were analyzed in search of parasites. Biacantha normaliae and Bidigiticauda vivipara (Trichostrongyloidea: Molineidae) were recorded in D. rotundus and A. lituratus respectively, both are the first occurrence of these nematodes in Brazil. Vampirolepis n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) was described in M. molossus and is distinguished from its congeners by having a small number of very long hooks and a big blade in proportion to the stem of the hooks, for possessing small eggs and scolex and rostelar receptacle measures large. Vampirolepis artibei (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) were recorded parasiting A. lituratus; while Vampirolepis sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) were recorded parasiting D. rotundus. Acanthatrium n. sp. (Digenea, Lecithodendriidae) is described and differs from the other congeneric species by having the lowest body size described to America, the genital atrium divided into two chambers with short and numerous spines, pre-cecal vitelin, large eggs reletad to cogenerics species and tegument smooth. Subtriquetra subtriquetra (Pentastomidae: Linguatulinae) were founded parasiting D. rotundus, it is the first occurrence of a pentastomid parasiting a bat in Brazil. The community ecology of metazoan parasites from A. lituratus was investigated to test the hypothesis that sampling area is associated with abiotic and biotic variables, and it affects parasitic host community structure. The composition of A.lituratus parasitic fauna presented significantly variation according to the sampling year, explaining its composition by 22%. Ectoparasites Paratrichobius longicrus (34.4%) and cestode V. artibei (18.2%) were the most relevant parasitic taxa in the community composition. Sampling year influence is due to climatic variations, and the smaller parasitic prevalence values associated with warmer and drier periods.