Parasitism on bats by bat flies in remnants of a humid forest enclave area in Northeastern Brazil.

Flies are the main bloodsucking ectoparasites of Neotropical bats. The aim of this study was to describe the community of flies on bats from a humid forest enclave, surrounded by the semiarid landscape of the Caatinga domain, in Northeastern Brazil. In addition, we tested the influence of dry and rainy periods on the parasitological indices. Fieldwork was carried out in three anthropized remnants of a humid forest enclave in the Agreste mesoregion of Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. Bats were captured monthly, from August 2018 to July 2019, and the ectoparasites were collected. Overall, 807 bats of 14 species and 11 genera of the families Phyllostomidae (13 spp.) and Vespertilionidae (1 sp.) were captured. Only four bat species had >50 individuals captured, and Carollia perspicillata was the most abundant species (259/807; 32%). Five hundred and seventy-one bat flies from 13 species (11 Streblidae and 2 Nycteribiidae) were collected, of which Trichobius joblingi was the most prevalent fly (197/571; 34.5%). Only the parasitism by T. joblingi was influenced by seasonality, with higher prevalence (P = 0.01) and intensity of infestation (P = 0.02) in the dry season. No lesions associated with parasitism were observed in any of the captured bats. Our results suggest that the bat-fly relationship can be affected in different ways by environmental variables, depending on the species involved. The results of this work contribute to the knowledge about ectoparasites of bats in the Neotropical region, with emphasis on humid forest enclaves, where studies of the host-parasite-environment relationship are scarce.

Biodiversity of the metazoan parasites ofHoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) from the Jacaré-Pepira River, Tietê-Jacaré River Basin, São Paulo State, Brazil / Biodiversidade dos metazoários parasitos de Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) do Rio Jacaré-Pepira, Na Bacia Do Rio Tietê-Jacaré, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

We recorded the parasitic fauna of Hoplias malabaricus in a Neotropical River from southeastern Brazil, the Jacaré-Pepira River, in the Tietê-Batalha River Basin. The objective of this study was to inventory the composition of the parasitic fauna of H. malabaricus collected, through ecological and biodiversity approaches. A total of 30 specimens of H. malabaricus were collected in 2018 using fishing nets. Parasites were prevalent in 96.6% of the hosts, with 710 parasites specimens collected, divided into 22 species from 4 different taxa (i.e., Monogenea, Digenea, Nematoda, and Acanthocephala). This was the first survey about the parasitic fauna of H. malabaricus in this river, where three species are new records for this host (i.e., Gussevia sp. 1, Gussevia sp. 2, and Raphidascaris sp.). All species found are new records for the Jacaré-Pepira River, which together with all the data obtained in the study, collaborates to increase knowledge and understanding of the global fish parasite biodiversity.

Aqui são apresentados os registros da fauna parasitária de Hoplias malabaricus em um rio neotropical do Sudeste do Brasil, o rio Jacaré-Pepira, localizado na bacia hidrográfica do Tietê-Jacaré. Trinta espécimes de H. malabaricus foram coletados em 2018 usando-se redes de espera. Parasitos foram prevalentes em 96,6% dos hospedeiros, com 710 espécimes coletados, divididos em 22 espécies de quatro diferentes taxas (monogenea, digenea, nematoda e acanthocephala). Esse foi o primeiro levantamento da fauna parasitária de H. malabaricus nesse rio, onde três espécies de parasitos são novos registros nesse hospedeiro (Gussevia sp. 1, Gussevia sp. 2 e Raphidascaris sp.). Além disso, todas as espécies de parasitos identificadas são novos registros para a localidade, que juntamente com todos os dados obtidos no estudo vão colaborar para melhor conhecimento e entendimento da biodiversidade global de parasitos de peixes.

Helminth fauna and histopathology associated with parasitic infections in Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) (Testudines, Chelidae) in a Brazilian river subjected to anthropogenic activities.

The objective of this study was to determine the structure of the helminth fauna and identify the macroscopic and histopathological alterations associated with parasitic infections in Phrynops geoffroanus. Freshwater turtles of both sexes were captured during the dry and rainy seasons in four municipalities along the Capibaribe River. The study included 63 animals, of which 79.37% (50/63) were parasitized by one or more helminths. In total, 933 helminths of seven taxa were recovered: Serpinema monospiculatus, Spiroxys figueiredoi, Nematophila grandis, Polystomoides brasiliensis, Cheloniodiplostomum testudinis, Telorchis birabeni, and Prionosomoides scalaris. Monogeneans and digenetic trematodes were more sensitive to environmental pressures, since the prevalences varied significantly between areas. Nematodes proved to be more resistant to environmental pressure and caused severe injuries to their hosts: nodules in the stomach and small intestine, adhesions in the liver capsule, and pulmonary emphysema. Parasitic granulomas were recorded at the infection sites and in the lungs and liver, the latter caused by migration of S. figueiredoi larvae. This is the first record of P. brasiliensis, N. grandis, C. testudinis, and T. birabeni parasitizing P. geoffroanus in the state of Pernambuco. Histopathology proved to be an important tool for studies on the impact of parasites at the individual, population, and ecosystem levels. Considering the use of the Capibaribe River for public water supply, fishing, and other activities, within the One Health perspective, this study demonstrates that the anthropogenic impact affects parasites and their hosts, in addition to the human population that uses this ecosystem.

Parasites of Gymnodactylus darwinii Gray, 1845 (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) from an Atlantic Rainforest fragment.

Gymnodactylus darwinii is an endemic lizard from Atlantic Rainforest. Ecological aspects of your parasitic fauna are still unknown. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to know the composition of parasitic fauna of G. darwinii in an Atlantic Rainforest fragment, as well to test the influence of the size, sex and seasonality on parasitological indices. The study was carried out in two conservation units: Mata do Camucim and Mata do Tapacurá, both located in the municipality of São Lourenço da Mata, Pernambuco state, northeast region of Brazil. Sixty-five specimens were collected, of which 39 (569%) were parasitized by cystacanths of Acanthocephala (prevalence 43%; mean intensity 4 ± 9.9; mean abundance 3.82 ± 7.87), Geckobia sp. (Acari, Pterygosomatidae) (prevalence 30.7%; mean intensity 4 ± 15.0; mean abundance 3.74 ± 9.54), Physaloptera sp. larvae (Nematoda, Physalopteridae) (prevalence 4.6%; mean intensity 1 ± 0.47; mean abundance 0.06 ± 0.47) and Paradistomum rabusculum (Trematoda, Dicrocoeliidae) (prevalence 1.2%; mean intensity 1; mean abundance 0.02). Acanthocephalans presented a significant relation with the animal length (r² = 0.31, p = 0.006, n = 28). Infestation by Geckobia sp. was more frequent during the dry season (BLM: p = 0.001), while the infection by Acanthocephalans was frequent in dry and rainy seasons, with no significant variation (BLM: p = 0.78). In addition, the most prevalent parasites showed no significant difference in relation to sex: males and females showed similar infestation intensity by Geckobia sp. (BLM: p = 0.31) and infection by Acanthocephala (BLM: p = 0.34). This is the first study about the parasitic ecology of G. darwinii, representing a significant contribution to the conservation of this species and the ecosystem in which they inhabit.