Ectoparasite composition of bats at forest fringe of Setiu, Terengganu

Abstract

A six month study was conducted on the ectoparasite composition of bats at forest fringe of Setiu, Terengganu. This study was carried out from August 2006 till January 2007. The objectives of this study were to determine the bat ectoparasite composition in the forest habitat of Setiu Wetlands, to compare prevalence and abundance of ectoparasites among the bat species and to establish a checklist of bat's ectoparasites for further references. Thirteen species of ectoparasites belonging to seven different genera were collected including Whartonia sp., Ornithodoros spp., Antricola sp., Streblia spp., Nycteribia spp., Meristapis sp. and Ctenocephalides sp.