Ectoparasite Diversity and Infestation Rate on Rodents and Treeshrews in Different Habitats in Western Sarawak, Borneo

Sieu Zhien, Teo (2021) Ectoparasite Diversity and Infestation Rate on Rodents and Treeshrews in Different Habitats in Western Sarawak, Borneo. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

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Abstract

Anthropogenic activities have created many new potential habitats for wildlife, which in turn may have implications on the diversity of small mammals as well as on their ectoparasite diversity and infestation rate. The objectives of this study are (i) to determine species richness and abundance of rodents and treeshrews in four selected different habitats, and (ii) to determine the ectoparasite diversity and infestation rate on rodents and treeshrews occupying these habitats. Seven forests, four oil palm plantations, six villages and six urban sites in western Sarawak, Borneo were sampled in this study. A total of 239 individuals comprising six species of rats, four species each of squirrels and treeshrews were captured by using baited cage trap technique. Both village and the urban area had comparably higher trapping success at 5.4% and 5.8% respectively compared to the forest which was lowest at 2.9%. Forest had the highest number of species (13), followed by oil palm plantation (7 species) and village and urban area with 4 and 3 species, respectively. Forests were dominated by Sundamys muelleri whereas Rattus tanezumi favored oil palm plantations, villages, and urban areas. The ectoparasites hosted on the trapped rodents and treeshrews were dislodged using combing technique and collected using forceps. A total of 11,684 individuals comprising 24 species of ectoparasites were recovered in this study. Twenty one species of ectoparasites were recovered from forests, 16 species from villages, 14 from urban areas, and 13 from oil palm plantations. The two dominant species (S. muelleri and R. tanezumi) were parasitized by multiple species of ectoparasites and with high parasite load for Laelaps spp., Chigger spp., and Listrophoroides sp. The highest infestation rate of ectoparasites (417 ectoparasite count) was recorded on an individual of R. tanezumi in Kampung Kuap, Samarahan; while the most number of ectoparasite species (eight species) was recorded on an individual of S. muelleri in Kampung Kuap, Samarahan as well. In conclusion all treeshrew species and some squirrel species are absent in villages and urban areas while rats such as R. tanezumi and S. muelleri are dominant in villages and urban areas. The habitat has a greater influence on the ectoparasite diversity and infestation rate of rodents and treeshrews, compared to animal effect. The high density and infestation rates of rats in villages and urban areas may increase people’s exposure to rodent-borne ectoparasites and this may raise the risk to public health.

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