Review of bat-parasitic macronissid mites from the Acarological Collection of Instituto Butantan

• Grant number: 21/08179-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius
• Grantee: Ana Paula de Moura
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the mites of medical and veterinary importance, the Macronyssidae family is little studied in Brazil, especially concerning its participation in the epidemiological chain of pathogens, some of them causing severe diseases. This family has 26 species recorded for the country, 15 of which have been reported parasitizing bats as potential vectors in the epidemiological cycle of pathogens. Some authors have already commented on the importance of these mites in the last century. However, the role of these mites in the epidemiology of pathogens has not yet been confirmed. Thus, this work proposes a detailed study of the identification and distribution of these mites deposited in the Acarological Collection of the Butantan Institute. Since this family can bite humans and show signs of being possible vectors of pathogens, our proposal aims to study the material deposited in this collection, focusing on specimens collected parasitizing bats. (AU)