Efeito da infestação parasitária por moscas hematófagas Streblidae sobre a condição corpórea de morcegos Artibeus planirostris no Pantanal

Abstract

Body condition is a physiological factor related to an individual's energy reserve. Phyllostomidae bats are hosts of hematophagous flies(Streblidae), whose pupae are deposited in the bat roosts. We evaluated whether the presence of Streblidae flies causes changes in body condition of Artibeus planirostris bats in the Pantanal. Recorded individuals were grouped by month of capture, sex, age, reproductive stage, and according to the presence or absence of ectoparasites. The body condition index (BCI) was calculated as mass/forearm length. Differences in BCI between parasitized and non-parasitized individuals were evaluated monthly for each class using a paired t-test. Prevalence of parasitism varied from 55 to 83% among classes, being higher for pregnant females. BCI values over the months were lower for juveniles than adults, as well as for males than for females. Adult females showed a tendency for BCI to increase in rainier months. The BCI was higher among non-parasitized individuals for juveniles females and pregnant females, with no significant differences to the other classes. Compared to non-parasitized individuals, on average, parasitized juvenile females and pregnant females showed 7% and 5% less body condition, respectively. Our results indicate that parasitism by Streblidae flies negatively influences the body condition of A. planirostris females in the Pantanal, while the body condition of males does not appear to be affected. Physiological, hormonal, and reproductive requirement differences between sexes may explain these results.