A study on the parasitofauna of rodents and bats at Serting, Negeri Sembilan

M. Sharif, Shabrina and Ismail, Salleh (1995) A study on the parasitofauna of rodents and bats at Serting, Negeri Sembilan. [Journal / Magazine]

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Abstract

This paper heralded a study on parasitofauna of rodents and bats at Serting, Negri Sembilan. Studies were initially conducted in January 1992 followed by subsequent studies in February and August 1993. A total of 146 small mammals inclusive of bats which constituted of 97 bats, 20 shrews, 17 rats and 12 squirrels were captured. They were derived from 3 Orders namely the Rodentia, Tupaioidea and Chiroptera which is further categorised into 18 species of bats, 4 species of rats, 4 species of squirrels and 2 species of shrews. Majority of these captures were predominated by the frugivorous bats (Cynopterus brachyotis), insectivorous bats (Rhinolophus affinisl and the tree shrew (Tupaia gUs). The ectoparasitofauna recovered from these animals fall under 7 broad groups belonging to 2 Orders that is Acariformes and Parasitoformes. The aforementioned groups comprised of the bat flies, ticks, fleas, lice, listrophorids, chiggers and mites (mesostigmatid, cheyletid and spinturnicid). The specimen under studied were generally noted to harbour more than 1 group of ectoparasitofauna on their bodies. The infestation rate determined amounted to 68.4%. However, the infestation rate of each of these groups of ectoparasitofauna fl.uctuated from 6.82% to 22.73%. Ticks attributed the highest infestation rate whilst lice and listrophorids occupied the lowest ranking. The maximum ectoparasite load was recorded in the rat, (Leopoldays sabanus) and the tree shrew, (Tupaia glis)) with the minimum ectoparasite load being attained in another species of shrew, (Tupaia minor).

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