Co-occurrence of Ectoparasites (Insecta and Arachnida) on Bats (Chiroptera) in an Atlantic Forest Remnant, Southeastern Brazil

Purpose Neotropical bats are infested by multiple ectoparasites (like bat fly and mite species) and investigations on these invertebrates on their hosts are crucial to better understand the ectoparasite-ectoparasite and ectoparasite-host associations. The goal of this study was to report ectoparasites species (bat flies and mites) on bats, emphasizing ectoparasite co-occurrences and host-ectoparasite associations. We also test if there is relationship between bat flies and mites on their hosts. Methods This study occurred twice a month from September 2011 to September 2012 in an Atlantic Forest remnant in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Spearman correlation was used to test relationship between bat flies and mites. Results We found 27 species of ectoparasites on 13 species of bats. Ectoparasites belonged to the bat fly families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, and the mite families Spinturnicidae, Macronyssidae, Sarcoptidae, and Trombiculidae. Streblid-streblid association was more frequent, but we also recorded streblid-spinturnicid, streblid-sarcoptid and spinturnicid-spinturnicid associations. The abundance of spinturnicid species was negatively related to the abundance of streblid species. We record the first occurrence of Strebla chrotopteri associated with Chrotopterus auritus, Periglischrus paracutisternus associated with Trachops cirrhosus and Basilia juquiensis associated with Myotis riparius for Rio de Janeiro State. Conclusion There were several co-occurrences between different taxa and between species of the same family. These results show the importance of the integrated taxonomic record. The negative interspecific interactions between spinturnicid and streblid may affect distributions, structuring ectoparasite communities on hosts.