title: The chiggerflea Hectopsylla pulex (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) as an ectoparasite of free-tailed bats (Chiroptera: Molossidae).
abstract: In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and intensity of Hectopsylla pulex infection in Molossus rufus and Molossus molossus, the parasite's choice of attachment site, and whether this host-parasite system varies with host size. Twenty-four bats were captured by hand from the roof of a house in Southeastern Brazil. M. rufus exhibited a prevalence of 71.4% and the mean intensity averaged 5 ectoparasites per bat. M. molossus exhibited a prevalence of 90%, and the average mean intensity was 2.11 ectoparasites. The attachment sites were: ear, tragus, shoulder blade and tibia, anus, wing, axilla, mouth and dactylopatagium. A positive correlation was observed between the bats' weight and the number of fleas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diversidade de Morcegos, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brasil. julialinsluz@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Júlia Lins
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: Luciana de Moraes
authors.initials: Lde M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Luiz Antonio Costa
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Lustosa
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Esbérard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*