title: Chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) and feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds of the Cerrado in Central Brazil.
abstract: The association of chewing lice and feather mites with wild birds of riparian forest was investigated in the Cerrado biome, Tocantins State, Brazil. The birds were captured with mist nets between July 2008 and March 2009. Ectoparasites were collected by the dust-ruffling technique. Infestation rates were determined by the sampling prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of ectoparasites. A total of 1,479 chewing lice were collected that were distributed in 3 families and 18 genera, of which 15 taxa were identified to the species level. Sixteen genera of feather mites were found, and 10 species were identified. A high prevalence rate of chewing lice and feather mites was found in non-Passeriformes (66.7 and 50.0%) and Passeriformes (57.8 and 75.6%) birds. New host-parasite associations were registered for two species of chewing lice and for four species of feather mites, thus expanding the geographical distribution in Brazil of six chewing lice species. This is the first study of the ectoparasites of wild birds to be conducted in this region of Brazil.
authors: Laboratory for Biodiversity, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Bauxita, 35.400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil. aleenout@hotmail.com
authors: Alexandre Magno Junqueira
authors: AM
authors: Enout
authors: Débora Nogueira Campos
authors: DN
authors: Lobato
authors: Francisco Carvalho
authors: FC
authors: Diniz
authors: Yasmine
authors: Y
authors: Antonini
mesh_terms: D000053:Acari / Q000254:growth & development*; D058325:Amblycera / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D001938:Brazil; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence