Data on ectoparasites infestation on small mammals from different habitats in east-coast Peninsular Malaysia

Nur Izzah Izzati Ahmad; Noor Aisyah A Rahim; Azuan Roslan; Madinah Adrus; Mariana Ahamad; Marina Hassan; Muhamad Safiih Lola; Mohd Noor Afiq Ramlee; Muhamad Aidil Zahidin; Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2020.105621

Data on ectoparasites infestation on small mammals from different habitats in east-coast Peninsular Malaysia

Data Brief. 2020 Apr 28:30:105621. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105621. eCollection 2020 Jun.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
² Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Wisma Sumber Asli, 25, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, 62574 Putrajaya, Malaysia.
³ Animal Resource Science and Management Programme, Faculty of Resources Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
⁴ Unit of Acarology, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, 40170 Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁵ Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁶ Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁷ Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Abstract

This data article presents on the ectoparasites infestation on small mammals in Peninsular Malaysia. The dataset on ectoparasites infestation is important because it raises a major medical concern regarding the spread of potentially zoonotic disease from wildlife to human. Tick and chigger are the primary ectoparasites as reservoirs of vector-borne diseases found on small mammals in Malaysia. These small mammals that are infested with ectoparasites occupy various types of habitats, including human settlements, could be of community health risks as the carriers of potentially zoonotic diseases. Field samplings were conducted from February 2015 to February 2016 in three different ecological habitats of mixed dipterocarp forest, coastal forest and insular forest, in Terengganu, Malaysia. A total of 35 and 22 species of bats and rodents respectively were captured and examined for ectoparasites. Twenty-three species of bats and 16 species of small mammal were recorded as hosts for at least one species of ectoparasites. These findings show that the highest ectoparasite infestation occurred on bat community.

Keywords: Bat; Bug; Chigger; Lice; Mite; Off coast-islands; Rodent; Setiu Wetland; South China Sea; Tasik Kenyir; Terengganu.