BIODIVERSIDADE E INTERAÇÃO DE ECTOPARASITOS EM ROEDORES SILVESTRES Holochilus sciureus WAGNER, 1842 (RODENTIA: CRICETIDAE), CAPTURADOS NO ESTADO DO MARANHÃO, BRASIL

The aim of this study was to carry out the identification of ectoparasites fauna of H. sciureus rodents in order to describe the dynamics of inter-relationship between parasites, the host and the environment. Therefore, these animals were captured in Sao Bento city, state of Maranhao, Brazil. We used fine-toothed combs and metal tweezers for collecting the ectoparasites that were preserved in 70% ethanol and identified with taxonomic keys. Ecoepidemiological parameters (abundance, prevalence, maximum and average intensity) of each identified group, were calculated. The occurrence of mixed infestations was also investigated. Statistical tests of Pearson's correlation (p<0.05) were performed between the variables: abundance of ectoparasites, biological characteristics of the host and pluviometric index of the region. A total of 104 rodents was obtained and 5109 ectoparasites were identified as: Prolistrophorus spp. (59.13%), Laelaps sp. (34.9%), Hoplopleura sp. (5.83%), larvae of Metacuterebra sp. (0.03%). The values of the ecoepidemiological parameters were higher for Prolistrophorus spp. Triple infestations were the most frequent (57.74%). Among the correlations, only the total length in male rodents influenced in a negative and significant way the abundance of Laelaps sp. We made here the first records of the mite Prolistrophorus spp., the lice Hoplopleura sp. and the dipteran Metacuterebra sp. larvae for Maranhao state. Keywords. arthropod parasites; wild mammal; Maranhao.