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Sjodin AR, Willig MR, Rodríguez‐Durán A, Anthony SJ. Rapid taxonomic categorization of short, abundant virus sequences for ecological analyses. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11501. [PMID: 38895563 PMCID: PMC11183940 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Public health concerns about recent viral epidemics have motivated researchers to seek novel ways to understand pathogen infection in native, wildlife hosts. With its deep history of tools and perspectives for understanding the abundance and distribution of organisms, ecology can shed new light on viral infection dynamics. However, datasets allowing deep explorations of viral communities from an ecological perspective are lacking. We sampled 1086 bats from two, adjacent Puerto Rican caves and tested them for infection by herpesviruses, resulting in 3131 short, viral sequences. Using percent identity of nucleotides and a machine learning algorithm (affinity propagation), we categorized herpesviruses into 43 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) to be used in place of species in subsequent ecological analyses. Herpesvirus metacommunities demonstrated long-tailed rank frequency distributions at all analyzed levels of host organization (i.e., individual, population, and community). Although 13 herpesvirus OTUs were detected in more than one host species, OTUs generally exhibited host specificity by infecting a single core host species at a significantly higher prevalence than in all satellite species combined. We describe the natural history of herpesvirus metacommunities in Puerto Rican bats and suggest that viruses follow the general law that communities comprise few common and many rare species. To guide future efforts in the field of viral ecology, hypotheses are presented regarding mechanisms that contribute to these patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Sjodin
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Michael R. Willig
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering and Institute of the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Simon J. Anthony
- Center for Infection and ImmunityColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and ImmunologyUC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineDavisCaliforniaUSA
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2
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Fleischer R, Jones C, Ledezma-Campos P, Czirják GÁ, Sommer S, Gillespie TR, Vicente-Santos A. Gut microbial shifts in vampire bats linked to immunity due to changed diet in human disturbed landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167815. [PMID: 37852483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic land-use change alters wildlife habitats and modifies species composition, diversity, and contacts among wildlife, livestock, and humans. Such human-modified ecosystems have been associated with emerging infectious diseases, threatening human and animal health. However, human disturbance also creates new resources that some species can exploit. Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in Latin America constitute an important example, as their adaptation to human-modified habitats and livestock blood-feeding has implications for e.g., rabies transmission. Despite the well-known links between habitat degradation and disease emergence, few studies have explored how human-induced disturbance influences wildlife behavioural ecology and health, which can alter disease dynamics. To evaluate links among habitat disturbance, diet shifts, gut microbiota, and immunity, we quantified disturbance around roosting caves of common vampire bats in Costa Rica, measured their long-term diet preferences (livestock or wildlife blood) using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, evaluated innate and adaptive immune markers, and characterized their gut microbiota. We observed that bats from roosting caves with more cattle farming nearby fed more on cattle blood. Moreover, gut microbial richness and the abundance of specific gut microbes differed according to feeding preferences. Interestingly, bats feeding primarily on wildlife blood harboured a higher abundance of the bacteria Edwardsiella sp., which tended to be associated with higher immunoglobulin G levels. Our results highlight how human land-use change may indirectly affect wildlife health and emerging infectious diseases through diet-induced shifts in microbiota, with implications for host immunity and potential consequences for susceptibility to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Fleischer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christie Jones
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amanda Vicente-Santos
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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3
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Vicente-Santos A, Lock LR, Allira M, Dyer KE, Dunsmore A, Tu W, Volokhov DV, Herrera C, Lei GS, Relich RF, Janech MG, Bland AM, Simmons NB, Becker DJ. Serum proteomics reveals a tolerant immune phenotype across multiple pathogen taxa in wild vampire bats. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1281732. [PMID: 38193073 PMCID: PMC10773587 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1281732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Bats carry many zoonotic pathogens without showing pronounced pathology, with a few exceptions. The underlying immune tolerance mechanisms in bats remain poorly understood, although information-rich omics tools hold promise for identifying a wide range of immune markers and their relationship with infection. To evaluate the generality of immune responses to infection, we assessed the differences and similarities in serum proteomes of wild vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) across infection status with five taxonomically distinct pathogens: bacteria (Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas), protozoa (Trypanosoma cruzi), and DNA (herpesviruses) and RNA (alphacoronaviruses) viruses. From 19 bats sampled in 2019 in Belize, we evaluated the up- and downregulated immune responses of infected versus uninfected individuals for each pathogen. Using a high-quality genome annotation for vampire bats, we identified 586 serum proteins but found no evidence for differential abundance nor differences in composition between infected and uninfected bats. However, using receiver operating characteristic curves, we identified four to 48 candidate biomarkers of infection depending on the pathogen, including seven overlapping biomarkers (DSG2, PCBP1, MGAM, APOA4, DPEP1, GOT1, and IGFALS). Enrichment analysis of these proteins revealed that our viral pathogens, but not the bacteria or protozoa studied, were associated with upregulation of extracellular and cytoplasmatic secretory vesicles (indicative of viral replication) and downregulation of complement activation and coagulation cascades. Additionally, herpesvirus infection elicited a downregulation of leukocyte-mediated immunity and defense response but an upregulation of an inflammatory and humoral immune response. In contrast to our two viral infections, we found downregulation of lipid and cholesterol homeostasis and metabolism with Bartonella spp. infection, of platelet-dense and secretory granules with hemoplasma infection, and of blood coagulation pathways with T. cruzi infection. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that vampire bats have a similar suite of immune mechanisms for viruses distinct from responses to the other pathogen taxa, and we identify potential biomarkers that can expand our understanding of pathogenesis of these infections in bats. By applying a proteomic approach to a multi-pathogen system in wild animals, our study provides a distinct framework that could be expanded across bat species to increase our understanding of how bats tolerate pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren R. Lock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Meagan Allira
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Kristin E. Dyer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Annalise Dunsmore
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Weihong Tu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Dmitriy V. Volokhov
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Guang-Sheng Lei
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Ryan F. Relich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Michael G. Janech
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Alison M. Bland
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Nancy B. Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
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Jones BD, Kaufman EJ, Peel AJ. Viral Co-Infection in Bats: A Systematic Review. Viruses 2023; 15:1860. [PMID: 37766267 PMCID: PMC10535902 DOI: 10.3390/v15091860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-infection is an underappreciated phenomenon in contemporary disease ecology despite its ubiquity and importance in nature. Viruses, and other co-infecting agents, can interact in ways that shape host and agent communities, influence infection dynamics, and drive evolutionary selective pressures. Bats are host to many viruses of zoonotic potential and have drawn increasing attention in their role as wildlife reservoirs for human spillover. However, the role of co-infection in driving viral transmission dynamics within bats is unknown. Here, we systematically review peer-reviewed literature reporting viral co-infections in bats. We show that viral co-infection is common in bats but is often only reported as an incidental finding. Biases identified in our study database related to virus and host species were pre-existing in virus studies of bats generally. Studies largely speculated on the role co-infection plays in viral recombination and few investigated potential drivers or impacts of co-infection. Our results demonstrate that current knowledge of co-infection in bats is an ad hoc by-product of viral discovery efforts, and that future targeted co-infection studies will improve our understanding of the role it plays. Adding to the broader context of co-infection studies in other wildlife species, we anticipate our review will inform future co-infection study design and reporting in bats. Consideration of detection strategy, including potential viral targets, and appropriate analysis methodology will provide more robust results and facilitate further investigation of the role of viral co-infection in bat reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent D. Jones
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | | | - Alison J. Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
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Hernández-Mora G, Chacón-Díaz C, Moreira-Soto A, Barrantes-Granados O, Suárez-Esquivel M, Viquez-Ruiz E, Barquero-Calvo E, Ruiz-Villalobos N, Hidalgo-Montealegre D, González-Barrientos R, Demeter EA, Estrella-Morales J, Zúñiga-Pereira AM, Quesada-Gómez C, Chaves-Olarte E, Lomonte B, Guzmán-Verri C, Drexler JF, Moreno E. Virulent Brucella nosferati infecting Desmodus rotundus has emerging potential due to the broad foraging range of its bat host for humans and wild and domestic animals. mSphere 2023; 8:e0006123. [PMID: 37404031 PMCID: PMC10449500 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00061-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Desmodus rotundus, vampire bats, transmit dangerous infections, and brucellosis is a hazardous zoonotic disease, two adversities that coexist in the subtropical and tropical areas of the American continent. Here, we report a 47.89% Brucella infection prevalence in a colony of vampire bats inhabiting the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica. The bacterium induced placentitis and fetal death in bats. Wide-range phenotypic and genotypic characterization placed the Brucella organisms as a new pathogenic species named Brucella nosferati sp. nov., isolated from bat tissues, including the salivary glands, suggesting feeding behavior might favor transmission to their prey. Overall analyses placed B. nosferati as the etiological agent of a reported canine brucellosis case, demonstrating its potential for infecting other hosts. To assess the putative prey hosts, we analyzed the intestinal contents of 14 infected and 23 non-infected bats by proteomics. A total of 54,508 peptides sorted into 7,203 unique peptides corresponding to 1,521 proteins were identified. Twenty-three wildlife and domestic taxa, including humans, were foraged by B. nosferati-infected D. rotundus, suggesting contact of this bacterium with a broad range of hosts. Our approach is appropriate for detecting, in a single study, the prey preferences of vampire bats in a diverse area, demonstrating its suitability for control strategies where vampire bats thrive. IMPORTANCE The discovery that a high proportion of vampire bats in a tropical area is infected with pathogenic Brucella nosferati and that bats forage on humans and many wild and domestic animals is relevant from the perspective of emerging disease prevention. Indeed, bats harboring B. nosferati in their salivary glands may transmit this pathogenic bacterium to other hosts. This potential is not trivial since, besides the demonstrated pathogenicity, this bacterium possesses all the required virulent arsenal of dangerous Brucella organisms, including those that are zoonotic for humans. Our work has settled the basis for future surveillance actions in brucellosis control programs where these infected bats thrive. Moreover, our strategy to identify the foraging range of bats may be adapted for exploring the feeding habits of diverse animals, including arthropod vectors of infectious diseases, and therefore of interest to a broader audience besides experts on Brucella and bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Hernández-Mora
- Unidad de Microbiología Médico Veterinaria, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Chacón-Díaz
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Andres Moreira-Soto
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Osvaldo Barrantes-Granados
- Unidad de Microbiología Médico Veterinaria, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Marcela Suárez-Esquivel
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Eunice Viquez-Ruiz
- Unidad de Microbiología Médico Veterinaria, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Elías Barquero-Calvo
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Nazareth Ruiz-Villalobos
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Daniela Hidalgo-Montealegre
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Rocío González-Barrientos
- Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Elena A. Demeter
- Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Josimar Estrella-Morales
- Unidad de Microbiología Médico Veterinaria, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Ana-Mariel Zúñiga-Pereira
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Quesada-Gómez
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Esteban Chaves-Olarte
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Caterina Guzmán-Verri
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
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Corduneanu A, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Wozniak A, Foucault-Simonin A, Moutailler S, Wu-Chuang A, Peter Á, Sándor AD, Cabezas-Cruz A. Detection of bacterial and protozoan pathogens in individual bats and their ectoparasites using high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0153123. [PMID: 37606379 PMCID: PMC10581248 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01531-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the most studied mammals in terms of their role in the spread of various pathogens with possible zoonotic effects are bats. These are animals with a very complex lifestyle, diet, and behavior. They are able to fly long distances, thus maintaining and spreading the pathogens they may be carrying. These pathogens also include vector-borne parasites and bacteria that can be spread by ectoparasites such as ticks and bat flies. In the present study, high-throughput screening was performed and we detected three bacterial pathogens: Bartonella spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Mycoplasma spp., and a protozoan parasite: Theileria spp. in paired samples from bats (blood and ectoparasites). In the samples from the bat-arthropod pairs, we were able to detect Bartonella spp. and Mycoplasma spp. which also showed a high phylogenetic diversity, demonstrating the importance of these mammals and the arthropods associated with them in maintaining the spread of pathogens. Previous studies have also reported the presence of these pathogens, with one exception, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, for which phylogenetic analysis revealed less genetic divergence. High-throughput screening can detect more bacteria and parasites at once, reduce screening costs, and improve knowledge of bats as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens. IMPORTANCE The increasing number of zoonotic pathogens is evident through extensive studies and expanded animal research. Bats, known for their role as reservoirs for various viruses, continue to be significant. However, new findings highlight the emergence of Bartonella spp., such as the human-infecting B. mayotimonensis from bats. Other pathogens like N. mikurensis, Mycoplasma spp., and Theileria spp. found in bat blood and ectoparasites raise concerns, as their impact remains uncertain. These discoveries underscore the urgency for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to understand and monitor zoonotic pathogens. By deepening our knowledge and collaboration, we can mitigate these risks, safeguarding human and animal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Wozniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Áron Peter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Brown N, Escobar LE. A review of the diet of the common vampire bat ( Desmodus rotundus) in the context of anthropogenic change. Mamm Biol 2023; 103:1-21. [PMID: 37363038 PMCID: PMC10258787 DOI: 10.1007/s42991-023-00358-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) maintains a diverse, sanguivorous diet, utilizing a broad range of prey taxa. As anthropogenic change alters the distribution of this species, shifts in predator-prey interactions are expected. Understanding prey richness and patterns of prey selection is, thus, increasingly informative from ecological, epidemiological, and economic perspectives. We reviewed D. rotundus diet and assessed the geographical, taxonomical, and behavioral features to find 63 vertebrate species within 21 orders and 45 families constitute prey, including suitable host species in regions of invasion outside D. rotundus' range. Rodentia contained the largest number of species utilized by D. rotundus, though cattle were the most commonly reported prey source, likely linked to the high availability of livestock and visibility of bite wounds compared to wildlife. Additionally, there was tendency to predate upon species with diurnal activity and social behavior, potentially facilitating convenient and nocturnal predation. Our review highlights the dietary heterogeneity of D. rotundus across its distribution. We define D. rotundus as a generalist predator, or parasite, depending on the ecological definition of its symbiont roles in an ecosystem (i.e., lethal vs. non-lethal blood consumption). In view of the eminent role of D. rotundus in rabies virus transmission and its range expansion, an understanding of its ecology would benefit public health, wildlife management, and agriculture. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42991-023-00358-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Brown
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Luis E. Escobar
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Global Change Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Doctorado en Agrociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de La Salle, Carrera 7 No. 179-03, Bogotá, Colombia
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Mendoza‐Sáenz VH, Saldaña‐Vázquez RA, Navarrete‐Gutiérrez D, Kraker‐Castañeda C, Ávila‐Flores R, Jiménez‐Ferrer G. Reducing conflict between the common vampire bat
Desmodus rotundus
and cattle ranching in Neotropical landscapes. Mamm Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Hugo Mendoza‐Sáenz
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur S/N, Barrio María Auxiliadora 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas México
| | - Romeo A. Saldaña‐Vázquez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medio Ambiente Xabier Gorostiaga, S.J., Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla Boulevard del Niño Poblano No. 2901, Colonia Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl 72820 San Andrés Cholula, Puebla México
| | - Dario Navarrete‐Gutiérrez
- Grupo Académico Ecología, Paisaje y Sustentabilidad, Departamento Observación y Estudio de la Tierra, la Atmosfera y el Océano, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur S/N, Barrio María Auxiliadora 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas México
| | - Cristian Kraker‐Castañeda
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur S/N, Barrio María Auxiliadora 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas México
- Unidad para el Conocimiento, Uso y Valoración de la Biodiversidad, Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (CECON) Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Avenida Reforma 0‐63, Zona 10 01010 Guatemala City Guatemala
| | - Rafael Ávila‐Flores
- División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco Carretera Villahermosa‐Cárdenas km 0.5 S/N, Entronque a Bosques de Saloya 86150 Villahermosa Tabasco México
| | - Guillermo Jiménez‐Ferrer
- Departamento de Agricultura, Sociedad y Ambiente El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur S/N, Barrio María Auxiliadora 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas México
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9
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Genomic Characterization of Three Novel Bartonella Strains in a Rodent and Two Bat Species from Mexico. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020340. [PMID: 36838305 PMCID: PMC9962129 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodents and bats are the most diverse mammal group that host Bartonella species. In the Americas, they were described as harboring Bartonella species; however, they were mostly characterized to the genotypic level. We describe here Bartonella isolates obtained from blood samples of one rodent (Peromyscus yucatanicus from San José Pibtuch, Yucatan) and two bat species (Desmodus rotundus from Progreso, and Pteronotus parnellii from Chamela-Cuitzmala) from Mexico. We sequenced and described the genomic features of three Bartonella strains and performed phylogenomic and pangenome analyses to decipher their phylogenetic relationships. The mouse-associated genome was closely related to Bartonella vinsonii. The two bat-associated genomes clustered into a single distinct clade in between lineages 3 and 4, suggesting to be an ancestor of the rodent-associated Bartonella clade (lineage 4). These three genomes showed <95% OrthoANI values compared to any other Bartonella genome, and therefore should be considered as novel species. In addition, our analyses suggest that the B. vinsonii complex should be revised, and all B. vinsonii subspecies need to be renamed and considered as full species. The phylogenomic clustering of the bat-associated Bartonella strains and their virulence factor profile (lack of the Vbh/TraG conjugation system remains of the T4SS) suggest that it should be considered as a new lineage clade (L5) within the Bartonella genus.
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Carbonara M, Mendonza-Roldan JA, Perles L, Alfaro-Alarcon A, Romero LM, Murillo DB, Piche-Ovares M, Corrales-Aguilar E, Iatta R, Walochnik J, Santoro M, Otranto D. Parasitic fauna of bats from Costa Rica. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 20:63-72. [PMID: 36655207 PMCID: PMC9841367 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Bats are important reservoirs and spreaders of pathogens, including those of zoonotic concern. Though Costa Rica hosts one of the highest bat species' diversity, no information is available about their parasites. In order to investigate the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of chiropterans from this neotropical area, ectoparasites (n = 231) and stools (n = 64) were collected from 113 bats sampled in Santa Cruz (site 1) and Talamanca (site 2). Mites, fleas and ticks were morphologically and molecularly identified, as well as pathogens transmitted by vectors (VBPs, i.e., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp.) and from feces, such as Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Eimeria spp. were molecularly investigated. Overall, 21 bat species belonging to 15 genera and 5 families were identified of which 42.5% were infested by ectoparasites, with a higher percentage of mites (38.9%, i.e., Cameronieta sp. and Mitonyssoides sp.) followed by flies (2.6%, i.e., Joblingia sp.) and tick larvae (1.7%, i.e., Ornithodoros sp.). Rickettsia spp. was identified in one immature tick and phylogenetically clustered with two Rickettsia species of the Spotted Fever Group (i.e., R. massiliae and R. rhipicephali). The frequency of GI parasite infection was 14%, being 3.1% of bats infected by Giardia spp. (un-identified non-duodenalis species), 1.5% by Eimeria spp. and 9.4% by Cryptosporidium spp. (bat and rodent genotypes; one C. parvum-related human genotype). The wide range of ectoparasites collected coupled with the detection of Rickettsia sp., Giardia and Cryptosporidium in bats from Costa Rica highlight the role these mammals may play as spreaders of pathogens and the need to further investigate the pathogenic potential of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lívia Perles
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniel Barrantes Murillo
- Pathology Department, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica,Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Alabama, USA
| | - Marta Piche-Ovares
- Research Center for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica,Department of Virology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | | | - Roberta Iatta
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Santoro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy,Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran,Corresponding author. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, 70010, Bari, Italy.
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Gainor K, Becker AAMJ, Malik YS, Ghosh S. First Report on Detection and Molecular Characterization of Adenoviruses in the Small Indian Mongoose ( Urva auropunctata). Viruses 2021; 13:v13112194. [PMID: 34835000 PMCID: PMC8622525 DOI: 10.3390/v13112194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Using a broad-range nested PCR assay targeting the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (pol) gene, we detected adenoviruses in 17 (20.48%) out of 83 fecal samples from small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. All 17 PCR amplicons were sequenced for the partial pol gene (~300 bp, hereafter referred to as Mon sequences). Fourteen of the 17 Mon sequences shared maximum homology (98.3-99.6% and 97-98.9% nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequence identities, respectively) with that of bovine adenovirus-6 (species Bovine atadenovirus E). Mongoose-associated adenovirus Mon-39 was most closely related (absolute nt and deduced aa identities) to an atadenovirus from a tropical screech owl. Mon-66 shared maximum nt and deduced aa identities of 69% and 71.4% with those of atadenoviruses from a spur-thighed tortoise and a brown anole lizard, respectively. Phylogenetically, Mon-39 and Mon-66 clustered within clades that were predominated by atadenoviruses from reptiles, indicating a reptilian origin of these viruses. Only a single mongoose-associated adenovirus, Mon-34, was related to the genus Mastadenovirus. However, phylogenetically, Mon-34 formed an isolated branch, distinct from other mastadenoviruses. Since the fecal samples were collected from apparently healthy mongooses, we could not determine whether the mongoose-associated adenoviruses infected the host. On the other hand, the phylogenetic clustering patterns of the mongoose-associated atadenoviruses pointed more towards a dietary origin of these viruses. Although the present study was based on partial pol sequences (~90 aa), sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis suggested that Mon-34, Mon-39, and Mon-66 might represent novel adenoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection and molecular characterization of adenoviruses from the mongoose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Gainor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, 00265 Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies; (K.G.); (A.A.M.J.B.)
| | - Anne A. M. J. Becker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, 00265 Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies; (K.G.); (A.A.M.J.B.)
| | - Yashpal S. Malik
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, 141004 Ludhiana, India;
| | - Souvik Ghosh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, 00265 Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies; (K.G.); (A.A.M.J.B.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +1-(869)-4654161 (ext. 401-1202)
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Neely BA, Janech MG, Fenton MB, Simmons NB, Bland AM, Becker DJ. Surveying the Vampire Bat ( Desmodus rotundus) Serum Proteome: A Resource for Identifying Immunological Proteins and Detecting Pathogens. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:2547-2559. [PMID: 33840197 PMCID: PMC9812275 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Bats are increasingly studied as model systems for longevity and as natural hosts for some virulent viruses. Yet the ability to characterize immune mechanisms of viral tolerance and to quantify infection dynamics in wild bats is often limited by small sample volumes and few species-specific reagents. Here, we demonstrate how proteomics can overcome these limitations by using data-independent acquisition-based shotgun proteomics to survey the serum proteome of 17 vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) from Belize. Using just 2 μL of sample and relatively short separations of undepleted serum digests, we identified 361 proteins across 5 orders of magnitude. Levels of immunological proteins in vampire bat serum were then compared to human plasma via published databases. Of particular interest were antiviral and antibacterial components, circulating 20S proteasome complex and proteins involved in redox activity. Lastly, we used known virus proteomes to putatively identify Rh186 from Macacine herpesvirus 3 and ORF1a from Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, indicating that mass spectrometry-based techniques show promise for pathogen detection. Overall, these results can be used to design targeted mass-spectrometry assays to quantify immunological markers and detect pathogens. More broadly, our findings also highlight the application of proteomics in advancing wildlife immunology and pathogen surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Neely
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - Michael G Janech
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina 29424, United States
| | - M Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024, United States
| | - Alison M Bland
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina 29424, United States
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
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Moreira Marrero L, Botto Nuñez G, Malta L, Delfraro A, Frabasile S. Ecological and Conservation Significance of Herpesvirus Infection in Neotropical Bats. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:123-133. [PMID: 34184171 PMCID: PMC8238035 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01530-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and key species for ecosystem functioning, providing a wide range of ecosystem services, from pest control to seed dispersal. Chiropterans are known for hosting a large diversity of viruses, in some cases with little or no effect to their health. Here, we report on the results of a screening for DNA (Herpesviridae) and RNA viruses (Rhabdovirus and Pneumovirus), finding a high prevalence and wide diversity of both Beta- and Gamma-Herpesvirus in insectivorous and hematophagous bats of the southern cone of South America. Our findings suggest that bats in the southern neotropics harbor a high diversity of herpesviruses and, at least in some cases, the viral community in the bat species is more strongly associated with ecological traits of the hosts, rather than their taxonomy. The presence of a separate clade into the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily in the common vampire bat suggests the independent circulation of herpesviruses in hematophagous and insectivorous bats and highlights the properness of these viruses to track vampire bats' population structure for rabies studies. Hence, we suggest that as other pathogens viruses may be used to track the population dynamics of their hosts, including movement and demographics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Moreira Marrero
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Programa Para La Conservación de Los Murciélagos de Uruguay, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Germán Botto Nuñez
- Programa Para La Conservación de Los Murciélagos de Uruguay, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - Lucía Malta
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Adriana Delfraro
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Sandra Frabasile
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Bergner LM, Mollentze N, Orton RJ, Tello C, Broos A, Biek R, Streicker DG. Characterizing and Evaluating the Zoonotic Potential of Novel Viruses Discovered in Vampire Bats. Viruses 2021; 13:252. [PMID: 33562073 PMCID: PMC7914986 DOI: 10.3390/v13020252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The contemporary surge in metagenomic sequencing has transformed knowledge of viral diversity in wildlife. However, evaluating which newly discovered viruses pose sufficient risk of infecting humans to merit detailed laboratory characterization and surveillance remains largely speculative. Machine learning algorithms have been developed to address this imbalance by ranking the relative likelihood of human infection based on viral genome sequences, but are not yet routinely applied to viruses at the time of their discovery. Here, we characterized viral genomes detected through metagenomic sequencing of feces and saliva from common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) and used these data as a case study in evaluating zoonotic potential using molecular sequencing data. Of 58 detected viral families, including 17 which infect mammals, the only known zoonosis detected was rabies virus; however, additional genomes were detected from the families Hepeviridae, Coronaviridae, Reoviridae, Astroviridae and Picornaviridae, all of which contain human-infecting species. In phylogenetic analyses, novel vampire bat viruses most frequently grouped with other bat viruses that are not currently known to infect humans. In agreement, machine learning models built from only phylogenetic information ranked all novel viruses similarly, yielding little insight into zoonotic potential. In contrast, genome composition-based machine learning models estimated different levels of zoonotic potential, even for closely related viruses, categorizing one out of four detected hepeviruses and two out of three picornaviruses as having high priority for further research. We highlight the value of evaluating zoonotic potential beyond ad hoc consideration of phylogeny and provide surveillance recommendations for novel viruses in a wildlife host which has frequent contact with humans and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Bergner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (N.M.); (R.B.); (D.G.S.)
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (R.J.O.); (A.B.)
| | - Nardus Mollentze
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (N.M.); (R.B.); (D.G.S.)
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (R.J.O.); (A.B.)
| | - Richard J. Orton
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (R.J.O.); (A.B.)
| | - Carlos Tello
- Association for the Conservation and Development of Natural Resources, Lima 15037, Peru;
- Yunkawasi, Lima 15049, Peru
| | - Alice Broos
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (R.J.O.); (A.B.)
| | - Roman Biek
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (N.M.); (R.B.); (D.G.S.)
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (N.M.); (R.B.); (D.G.S.)
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (R.J.O.); (A.B.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcione B. De Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Zoology, National Museum, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil
| | - Cibele R. Bonvicino
- Graduate Program in Zoology, National Museum, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil
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16
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Benavides JA, Valderrama W, Recuenco S, Uieda W, Suzán G, Avila-Flores R, Velasco-Villa A, Almeida M, de Andrade FA, Molina-Flores B, Vigilato MAN, Pompei JCA, Tizzani P, Carrera JE, Ibanez D, Streicker DG. Defining New Pathways to Manage the Ongoing Emergence of Bat Rabies in Latin America. Viruses 2020; 12:E1002. [PMID: 32911766 PMCID: PMC7551776 DOI: 10.3390/v12091002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies transmitted by common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) has been known since the early 1900s but continues to expand geographically and in the range of species and environments affected. In this review, we present current knowledge of the epidemiology and management of rabies in D. rotundus and argue that it can be reasonably considered an emerging public health threat. We identify knowledge gaps related to the landscape determinants of the bat reservoir, reduction in bites on humans and livestock, and social barriers to prevention. We discuss how new technologies including autonomously-spreading vaccines and reproductive suppressants targeting bats might manage both rabies and undesirable growth of D. rotundus populations. Finally, we highlight widespread under-reporting of human and animal mortality and the scarcity of studies that quantify the efficacy of control measures such as bat culling. Collaborations between researchers and managers will be crucial to implement the next generation of rabies management in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A. Benavides
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370146, Chile
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370146 Santiago, Chile
| | - William Valderrama
- Association for the Conservation and Development of Natural Resources ILLARIY, Lima 051, Peru;
- Departamento de Pediatría, Obstetricia y Ginecología y de Medicina Preventiva, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Recuenco
- Facultad de Medicina San Fernando, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15001, Peru;
| | - Wilson Uieda
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Campus de Botucatu, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil;
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Rafael Avila-Flores
- División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86150, Mexico;
| | - Andres Velasco-Villa
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA;
| | - Marilene Almeida
- Centro de Controle de Zoonoses da Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo, São Paulo 02031-020, Brazil;
| | - Fernanda A.G. de Andrade
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciências e Tecnología do Pará, Tucuruí 68-455-695, Brazil;
| | - Baldomero Molina-Flores
- Pan-American Center for Foot-and-mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health—Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PANAFTOSA—PAHO/WHO), Rio de Janeiro 25045-002, Brazil; (B.M.-F.); (M.A.N.V.); (J.C.A.P.)
| | - Marco Antonio Natal Vigilato
- Pan-American Center for Foot-and-mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health—Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PANAFTOSA—PAHO/WHO), Rio de Janeiro 25045-002, Brazil; (B.M.-F.); (M.A.N.V.); (J.C.A.P.)
| | - Julio Cesar Augusto Pompei
- Pan-American Center for Foot-and-mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health—Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PANAFTOSA—PAHO/WHO), Rio de Janeiro 25045-002, Brazil; (B.M.-F.); (M.A.N.V.); (J.C.A.P.)
| | - Paolo Tizzani
- OIE-World Organisation for Animal Health, 75017 Paris, France;
| | - Jorge E. Carrera
- Departamento de Mastozoología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15072, Peru;
- Programa de Conservación de Murciélagos de Perú, Lima 15072, Peru
| | - Darcy Ibanez
- Director Regional de la Dirección Regional Sectorial Agraria, Gobierno Regional de Apurímac, Abancay 03001, Peru;
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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Arias-Giraldo LM, Muñoz M, Hernández C, Herrera G, Velásquez-Ortiz N, Cantillo-Barraza O, Urbano P, Cuervo A, Ramírez JD. Identification of blood-feeding sources in Panstrongylus, Psammolestes, Rhodnius and Triatoma using amplicon-based next-generation sequencing. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:434. [PMID: 32867816 PMCID: PMC7457505 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04310-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triatomines are hematophagous insects that play an important role as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. These insects have adapted to multiple blood-feeding sources that can affect relevant aspects of their life-cycle and interactions, thereby influencing parasitic transmission dynamics. We conducted a characterization of the feeding sources of individuals from the primary circulating triatomine genera in Colombia using amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). METHODS We used 42 triatomines collected in different departments of Colombia. DNA was extracted from the gut. The presence of T. cruzi was identified using real-time PCR, and discrete typing units (DTUs) were determined by conventional PCR. For blood-feeding source identification, PCR products of the vertebrate 12S rRNA gene were obtained and sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Blood-meal sources were inferred using blastn against a curated reference dataset containing the 12S rRNA sequences belonging to vertebrates with a distribution in South America that represent a potential feeding source for triatomine bugs. Mean and median comparison tests were performed to evaluate differences in triatomine blood-feeding sources, infection state, and geographical regions. Lastly, the inverse Simpson's diversity index was calculated. RESULTS The overall frequency of T. cruzi infection was 83.3%. TcI was found as the most predominant DTU (65.7%). A total of 67 feeding sources were detected from the analyses of approximately 7 million reads. The predominant feeding source found was Homo sapiens (76.8%), followed by birds (10.5%), artiodactyls (4.4%), and non-human primates (3.9%). There were differences among numerous feeding sources of triatomines of different species. The diversity of feeding sources also differed depending on the presence of T. cruzi. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to employ amplicon-based NGS of the 12S rRNA gene to depict blood-feeding sources of multiple triatomine species collected in different regions of Colombia. Our findings report a striking read diversity that has not been reported previously. This is a powerful approach to unravel transmission dynamics at microgeographical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M Arias-Giraldo
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carolina Hernández
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Giovanny Herrera
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Natalia Velásquez-Ortiz
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Omar Cantillo-Barraza
- Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Plutarco Urbano
- Grupo de Investigaciones Biológicas de la Orinoquia, Fundación Universitaria Internacional del Trópico Americano (Unitropico), Yopal, Colombia
| | - Andrés Cuervo
- Secretaría Departamental de Salud de Arauca, Arauca, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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18
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James S, Donato D, de Thoisy B, Lavergne A, Lacoste V. Novel herpesviruses in neotropical bats and their relationship with other members of the Herpesviridae family. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 84:104367. [PMID: 32450245 PMCID: PMC7244429 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, a large number of studies have detected herpesvirus sequences from many bat species around the world. Nevertheless, the discovery of bat herpesviruses is geographically uneven. Of the various bat species tested to date, only a few were from the New World. Seeking to investigate the distribution and diversity of herpesviruses circulating in neotropical bats, we carried out molecular screening of 195 blood DNA samples from 11 species of three bat families (Phyllostomidae, Mormoopidae, and Molossidae). Using polymerase chain reaction amplification, with degenerate consensus primers targeting highly conserved amino acid motifs of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase and Glycoprotein B genes, we characterized novel viral sequences from all tested species. BLAST searches, pairwise nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons, as well as phylogenetic analyses confirmed that they all belonged to the Herpesviridae family, of the Beta- and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies. Fourteen partial DNA polymerase gene sequences, of which three beta- and 11 gamma-herpesviruses, were detected. A total of 12 partial Glycoprotein B gene sequences, all gamma-herpesviruses, were characterized. Every sequence was specific to a bat species and in some species (Desmodus rotundus, Carollia perspicillata, and Pteronotus rubiginosus) multiple viruses were found. Phylogenetic analyses of beta- and gammaherpesvirus sequences led to the identification of bat-specific clades. Those composed of sequences obtained from different bat species belonging to distinct subfamilies follow the taxonomy of bats. This study confirms the astonishing diversity of bat herpesviruses and broadens our knowledge of their host range. Nevertheless, it also emphasizes the fact that, to better appreciate the evolutionary history of these viruses, much remains to be done at various taxonomic levels. Molecular screening was carried out on 11 bat species from French Guiana and Martinique (French West Indies). Partial DNA polymerase gene sequences of 14 viruses were characterized as well as 12 Glycoprotein B sequences. Genetic characterization of these sequences reveals a high degree of genetic divergence. Phylogenetically, most of the newly discovered sequences fall within bat-specific clades well correlated with the taxonomy of their hosts. This study is the largest conducted to date in terms of species diversity from the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha James
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana; Université de la Guyane, Ecole doctorale 587 "Diversités, Santé et Développement en Amazonie", Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Damien Donato
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Benoît de Thoisy
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana; Université de la Guyane, Ecole doctorale 587 "Diversités, Santé et Développement en Amazonie", Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Anne Lavergne
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana; Université de la Guyane, Ecole doctorale 587 "Diversités, Santé et Développement en Amazonie", Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Vincent Lacoste
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana; Université de la Guyane, Ecole doctorale 587 "Diversités, Santé et Développement en Amazonie", Cayenne, French Guiana; Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France.
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Nziza J, Goldstein T, Cranfield M, Webala P, Nsengimana O, Nyatanyi T, Mudakikwa A, Tremeau-Bravard A, Byarugaba D, Tumushime JC, Mwikarago IE, Gafarasi I, Mazet J, Gilardi K. Coronaviruses Detected in Bats in Close Contact with Humans in Rwanda. ECOHEALTH 2020; 17:152-159. [PMID: 31811597 PMCID: PMC7088394 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01458-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Bats living in close contact with people in Rwanda were tested for evidence of infection with viruses of zoonotic potential. Mucosal swabs from 503 bats representing 17 species were sampled from 2010 to 2014 and screened by consensus PCR for 11 viral families. Samples were negative for all viral families except coronaviruses, which were detected in 27 bats belonging to eight species. Known coronaviruses detected included the betacorona viruses: Kenya bat coronaviruses, Eidolon bat coronavirus, and Bat coronavirus HKU9, as well as an alphacoronavirus, Chaerephon Bat coronavirus. Novel coronaviruses included two betacorona viruses clustering with SARS-CoV, a 2d coronavirus, and an alphacoronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tracey Goldstein
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Paul Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, P.O. Box 861, Narok, 20500, Kenya
| | | | - Thierry Nyatanyi
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | | | - Alexandre Tremeau-Bravard
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Dennis Byarugaba
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Ivan Emil Mwikarago
- National Reference Laboratory, Rwanda Biomedical Center, P.O. Box 83, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Jonna Mazet
- Gorilla Doctors, P.O. Box 115, Musanze, Rwanda
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kirsten Gilardi
- Gorilla Doctors, P.O. Box 115, Musanze, Rwanda
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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20
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Prada D, Boyd V, Baker ML, O’Dea M, Jackson B. Viral Diversity of Microbats within the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia. Viruses 2019; 11:E1157. [PMID: 31847282 PMCID: PMC6950384 DOI: 10.3390/v11121157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are known reservoirs of a wide variety of viruses that rarely result in overt clinical disease in the bat host. However, anthropogenic influences on the landscape and climate can change species assemblages and interactions, as well as undermine host-resilience. The cumulative result is a disturbance of bat-pathogen dynamics, which facilitate spillover events to sympatric species, and may threaten bat communities already facing synergistic stressors through ecological change. Therefore, characterisation of viral pathogens in bat communities provides important basal information to monitor and predict the emergence of diseases relevant to conservation and public health. This study used targeted molecular techniques, serological assays and next generation sequencing to characterise adenoviruses, coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses from 11 species of insectivorous bats within the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia. Phylogenetic analysis indicated complex ecological interactions including virus-host associations, cross-species infections, and multiple viral strains circulating concurrently within selected bat populations. Additionally, we describe the entire coding sequences for five alphacoronaviruses (representing four putative new species), and one novel adenovirus. Results indicate that viral burden (both prevalence and richness) is not homogeneous among species, with Chalinolobus gouldii identified as a key epidemiological element within the studied communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Prada
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (M.O.); (B.J.)
| | - Victoria Boyd
- Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, CSIRO, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (V.B.); (M.L.B.)
| | - Michelle L. Baker
- Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, CSIRO, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (V.B.); (M.L.B.)
| | - Mark O’Dea
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (M.O.); (B.J.)
| | - Bethany Jackson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (M.O.); (B.J.)
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21
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André MR, Gutiérrez R, Ikeda P, do Amaral RB, de Sousa KCM, Nachum-Biala Y, Lima L, Teixeira MMG, Machado RZ, Harrus S. Genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in vampire bats from Brazil. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:2329-2341. [PMID: 31287942 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of Bartonella species have been emerged to cause human diseases. Among animal reservoirs for Bartonella spp., bats stand out due to their high mobility, wide distribution, social behaviour and long-life span. Although studies on the role of vampire bats in the epidemiology of rabies have been extensively investigated in Latin America, information on the circulation and genetic diversity of Bartonella species in these bat species is scarce. In the present work, 208 vampire bats, namely Desmodus rotundus (the common vampire bat; n = 167), Diphylla ecaudata (the hairy-legged vampire bat; n = 32) and Diaemus youngii (the white-winged vampire bat; n = 9) from 15 different states in Brazil were sampled. DNA was extracted from liver tissue samples and submitted to real-time PCR (qPCR) and conventional PCR (cPCR) assays for Bartonella spp. targeting five genetic loci, followed by phylogenetic and genotype network analyses. Fifty-one out of 208 liver samples (24.51%) were positive for Bartonella DNA in the ITS real-time PCR assay [40 (78.43%) of them were from D. rotundus from 11 states, and 11 (21.57%) samples from D. ecaudata from three states. Eleven genotypes were found for each gltA and rpoB genes. Several ITS sequences detected in the present study clustered within the lineage that includes B. bacilliformis and B. ancachensis. The Bayesian phylogenetic inference based on the gltA gene positioned the obtained sequences in six different clades, closely related to Bartonella genotypes previously detected in D. rotundus and associated ectoparasites sampled in Latin America. On the other hand, the Bartonella rpoB genotypes clustered together with the ruminant species, B. schoenbuchensis and B. chomelii. The present study describes for the first time the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in D. ecaudata bats. It also indicates that Bartonella spp. of vampire bats are genetically diverse and geographically widespread in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos R André
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Gutiérrez
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Priscila Ikeda
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renan Bressianini do Amaral
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Yaarit Nachum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Luciana Lima
- Departmento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marta M G Teixeira
- Departmento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Z Machado
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Shimon Harrus
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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22
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Mishra N, Fagbo SF, Alagaili AN, Nitido A, Williams SH, Ng J, Lee B, Durosinlorun A, Garcia JA, Jain K, Kapoor V, Epstein JH, Briese T, Memish ZA, Olival KJ, Lipkin WI. A viral metagenomic survey identifies known and novel mammalian viruses in bats from Saudi Arabia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214227. [PMID: 30969980 PMCID: PMC6457491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are implicated as natural reservoirs for a wide range of zoonotic viruses including SARS and MERS coronaviruses, Ebola, Marburg, Nipah, Hendra, Rabies and other lyssaviruses. Accordingly, many One Health surveillance and viral discovery programs have focused on bats. In this report we present viral metagenomic data from bats collected in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. Unbiased high throughput sequencing of fecal samples from 72 bat individuals comprising four species; lesser mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma hardwickii), Egyptian tomb bat (Taphozous perforatus), straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum), and Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) revealed molecular evidence of a diverse set of viral families: Picornaviridae (hepatovirus, teschovirus, parechovirus), Reoviridae (rotavirus), Polyomaviridae (polyomavirus), Papillomaviridae (papillomavirus), Astroviridae (astrovirus), Caliciviridae (sapovirus), Coronaviridae (coronavirus), Adenoviridae (adenovirus), Paramyxoviridae (paramyxovirus), and unassigned mononegavirales (chuvirus). Additionally, we discovered a bastro-like virus (Middle East Hepe-Astrovirus), with a genomic organization similar to Hepeviridae. However, since it shared homology with Hepeviridae and Astroviridae at ORF1 and in ORF2, respectively, the newly discovered Hepe-Astrovirus may represent a phylogenetic bridge between Hepeviridae and Astroviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NM); (ZAM)
| | - Shamsudeen F. Fagbo
- One Health Unit, Executive Directorate for Surveillance and Response, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz N. Alagaili
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adam Nitido
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Simon H. Williams
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - James Ng
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Bohyun Lee
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Joel A. Garcia
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Komal Jain
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Vishal Kapoor
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas Briese
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ziad A. Memish
- The College of Medicine, Al faisal University & Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (NM); (ZAM)
| | - Kevin J. Olival
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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23
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In This Issue 16.1. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:1-3. [PMID: 30756276 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01398-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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24
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Bergner LM, Orton RJ, da Silva Filipe A, Shaw AE, Becker DJ, Tello C, Biek R, Streicker DG. Using noninvasive metagenomics to characterize viral communities from wildlife. Mol Ecol Resour 2018; 19:128-143. [PMID: 30240114 PMCID: PMC6378809 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities play an important role in organismal and ecosystem health. While high-throughput metabarcoding has revolutionized the study of bacterial communities, generating comparable viral communities has proven elusive, particularly in wildlife samples where the diversity of viruses and limited quantities of viral nucleic acid present distinctive challenges. Metagenomic sequencing is a promising solution for studying viral communities, but the lack of standardized methods currently precludes comparisons across host taxa or localities. Here, we developed an untargeted shotgun metagenomic sequencing protocol to generate comparable viral communities from noninvasively collected faecal and oropharyngeal swabs. Using samples from common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), a key species for virus transmission to humans and domestic animals, we tested how different storage media, nucleic acid extraction procedures and enrichment steps affect viral community detection. Based on finding viral contamination in foetal bovine serum, we recommend storing swabs in RNAlater or another nonbiological medium. We recommend extracting nucleic acid directly from swabs rather than from supernatant or pelleted material, which had undetectable levels of viral RNA. Results from a low-input RNA library preparation protocol suggest that ribosomal RNA depletion and light DNase treatment reduce host and bacterial nucleic acid, and improve virus detection. Finally, applying our approach to twelve pooled samples from seven localities in Peru, we showed that detected viral communities saturated at the attained sequencing depth, allowing unbiased comparisons of viral community composition. Future studies using the methods outlined here will elucidate the determinants of viral communities across host species, environments and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Bergner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard J Orton
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Andrew E Shaw
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Carlos Tello
- Association for the Conservation, Development of Natural Resources, Lima, Peru.,Yunkawasi, Lima, Peru
| | - Roman Biek
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel G Streicker
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
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25
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Becker DJ, Bergner LM, Bentz AB, Orton RJ, Altizer S, Streicker DG. Genetic diversity, infection prevalence, and possible transmission routes of Bartonella spp. in vampire bats. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006786. [PMID: 30260954 PMCID: PMC6159870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella spp. are globally distributed bacteria that cause endocarditis in humans and domestic animals. Recent work has suggested bats as zoonotic reservoirs of some human Bartonella infections; however, the ecological and spatiotemporal patterns of infection in bats remain largely unknown. Here we studied the genetic diversity, prevalence of infection across seasons and years, individual risk factors, and possible transmission routes of Bartonella in populations of common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in Peru and Belize, for which high infection prevalence has previously been reported. Phylogenetic analysis of the gltA gene for a subset of PCR-positive blood samples revealed sequences that were related to Bartonella described from vampire bats from Mexico, other Neotropical bat species, and streblid bat flies. Sequences associated with vampire bats clustered significantly by country but commonly spanned Central and South America, implying limited spatial structure. Stable and nonzero Bartonella prevalence between years supported endemic transmission in all sites. The odds of Bartonella infection for individual bats was unrelated to the intensity of bat flies ectoparasitism, but nearly all infected bats were infested, which precluded conclusive assessment of support for vector-borne transmission. While metagenomic sequencing found no strong evidence of Bartonella DNA in pooled bat saliva and fecal samples, we detected PCR positivity in individual saliva and feces, suggesting the potential for bacterial transmission through both direct contact (i.e., biting) and environmental (i.e., fecal) exposures. Further investigating the relative contributions of direct contact, environmental, and vector-borne transmission for bat Bartonella is an important next step to predict infection dynamics within bats and the risks of human and livestock exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Becker
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of Ameirca
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Bergner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra B. Bentz
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Orton
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of Ameirca
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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26
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Detection of Bartonella species, including Candidatus Bartonella ovis sp. nov, in ruminants from Mexico and lack of evidence of Bartonella DNA in saliva of common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) predating on them. Vet Microbiol 2018; 222:69-74. [PMID: 30080675 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Bartonella spp. have been identified in many bat species worldwide, including the zoonotic species, Candidatus Bartonella mayotimonensis. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) preys preferentially on livestock in Latin America and is frequently infected with Bartonella spp. To determine the potential role of D. rotundus in transmitting Bartonella to livestock, common vampire bats and bat-bitten domestic ruminants from Mexico were tested for Bartonella infection by blood culture or conventional PCR. Furthermore, to explore the possibility of bite transmission during blood feeding, saliva swabs from 35 D. rotundus known to be either Bartonella bacteremic (N = 17) or blood culture negative (N = 18) were tested by PCR to detect the presence of Bartonella DNA. Twenty (17.1%) of 117 sheep and 16 (34.8%) of 46 cattle were Bartonella bacteremic by PCR testing. However, none of them were infected with Bartonella strains previously isolated from vampire bats and none of the 35 D. rotundus saliva swabs tested were PCR positive for Bartonella. All but two animals among those which were Bartonella culture and/or PCR positive, were infected with either B. bovis (cattle) or B. melophagi (sheep). Two sheep were infected by a possible new species, Candidatus Bartonella ovis, being phylogenetically closer to B. bovis than B. melophagi. This study does not support the role of D. rotundus as a reservoir of Bartonella species infecting livestock, which could be transmitted via bite and blood feeding and therefore suggest limited risk of zoonotic transmission of Bartonella from common vampire bats to humans.
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do Amaral RB, Lourenço EC, Famadas KM, Garcia AB, Machado RZ, André MR. Molecular detection of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in bat ectoparasites in Brazil. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198629. [PMID: 29870549 PMCID: PMC5988283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Streblidae comprises a monophyletic group of Hippoboscoidea, hematophagous dipterans that parasitize bats. Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. have been reported in bats sampled in Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central and South America. However, there are few reports on the Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria infecting Hippoboscoidea flies and mites. While Spinturnicidae mites are ectoparasites found only in bats, those belonging to the family Macronyssidae comprise mites that also parasitize other mammal species. This study investigates the occurrence and assesses the phylogenetic positioning of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. found in Streblidae flies and Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae mites collected from bats captured in Brazil. From May 2011 to April 2012 and September 2013 to December 2014, 400 Streblidae flies, 100 Macronyssidaes, and 100 Spinturnicidae mites were collected from bats captured in two sites in northeastern Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Forty (19.8%) out of 202 Streblidae flies were positive for Bartonella spp. in qPCR assays based on the nuoG gene. Among the flies positive for the bacterium, six (18%) were Paratrichobius longicrus, seven (29%) Strebla guajiro, two (40%) Aspidoptera phyllostomatis, five (11%) Aspidoptera falcata, one (10%) Trichobius anducei, one (25%) Megistopoda aranea, and 18 (32%) Trichobius joblingi, and collected from bats of the following species: Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus planirostris, Sturnira lilium, and Artibeus obscurus. Six sequences were obtained for Bartonella (nuoG [n = 2], gltA [n = 2], rpoB [n = 1], ribC = 1]). The phylogenetic analysis based on gltA (750pb) gene showed that the Bartonella sequences clustered with Bartonella genotypes detected in bats and ectoparasites previously sampled in Latin America, including Brazil. Only one sample (0.49%) of the species Trichobius joblingi collected from a specimen of Carollia perspicillata was positive for Rickettsia sp. in cPCR based on the gltA gene (401bp). This sequence was clustered with a 'Candidatus Rickettsia andaenae" genotype detected in an Amblyomma parvum tick collected from a rodent in the southern region of Brazilian Pantanal. The sampled Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites were negative for Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. This study demonstrated the first occurrence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. DNA in Streblidae flies collected from bats in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan Bressianini do Amaral
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
- Agricultural and Livestock Microbiology Graduation Program, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Elizabete Captivo Lourenço
- Laboratory of Parasite Arthropods, Department of Animal Parasitology, Institute of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro–UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Kátia Maria Famadas
- Laboratory of Parasite Arthropods, Department of Animal Parasitology, Institute of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro–UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Amanda Barbosa Garcia
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
- Agricultural and Livestock Microbiology Graduation Program, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
- Agricultural and Livestock Microbiology Graduation Program, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
- Agricultural and Livestock Microbiology Graduation Program, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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Novel hemotropic mycoplasmas are widespread and genetically diverse in vampire bats. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:3154-3167. [PMID: 29061202 DOI: 10.1017/s095026881700231x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats (Order: Chiroptera) have been widely studied as reservoir hosts for viruses of concern for human and animal health. However, whether bats are equally competent hosts of non-viral pathogens such as bacteria remains an important open question. Here, we surveyed blood and saliva samples of vampire bats from Peru and Belize for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas), bacteria that can cause inapparent infection or anemia in hosts. 16S rRNA gene amplification of blood showed 67% (150/223) of common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) were infected by hemoplasmas. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed three novel genotypes that were phylogenetically related but not identical to hemoplasmas described from other (non-vampire) bat species, rodents, humans, and non-human primates. Hemoplasma prevalence in vampire bats was highest in non-reproductive and young individuals, did not differ by country, and was relatively stable over time (i.e., endemic). Metagenomics from pooled D. rotundus saliva from Peru detected non-hemotropic Mycoplasma species and hemoplasma genotypes phylogenetically similar to those identified in blood, providing indirect evidence for potential direct transmission of hemoplasmas through biting or social contacts. This study demonstrates vampire bats host several novel hemoplasmas and sheds light on risk factors for infection and basic transmission routes. Given the high frequency of direct contacts that arise when vampire bats feed on humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, the potential of these bacteria to be transmitted between species should be investigated in future work.
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Stuckey MJ, Chomel BB, de Fleurieu EC, Aguilar-Setién A, Boulouis HJ, Chang CC. Bartonella, bats and bugs: A review. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 55:20-29. [PMID: 29127990 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ecological, immunological, and epidemiological factors enable bats to transmit an increasingly recognized spectrum of zoonotic agents, and bartonellae are among those emerging pathogens identified in bats and their arthropod ectoparasites. Current data reveal a multifaceted disease ecology where diverse host species distributed around the world interact with a number of Bartonella spp. and several potential vectors. This review summarizes the methods and findings of studies conducted since 2005 to illustrate that Bartonella bacteremia varies by bat species, location, and other potential variables, such as diet with a very high prevalence in hematophagous bats. Among bat families, Bartonella prevalence ranged from 7.3% among Nycteridae to 54.4% in Miniopteridae. Further research can build on these current data to better determine risk factors associated with Bartonella infection in bat populations and the role of their ectoparasites in transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Stuckey
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Bruno B Chomel
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Eloi Claret de Fleurieu
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Alvaro Aguilar-Setién
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Henri-Jean Boulouis
- ComUE Paris Est, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPR 956 ENVA ANSES INRA, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Chao-Chin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Evidence and molecular characterization ofBartonellaspp. and hemoplasmas in neotropical bats in Brazil. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:2038-2052. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817000966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe order Chiroptera is considered the second largest group of mammals in the world, hosting important zoonotic virus and bacteria.Bartonellaand hemotropic mycoplasmas are bacteria that parasite different mammals’ species, including humans, causing different clinical manifestations. The present work aimed investigating the occurrence and assessing the phylogenetic positioning ofBartonellaspp. andMycoplasmaspp. in neotropical bats sampled from Brazil. Between December 2015 and April 2016, 325 blood and/or tissues samples were collected from 162 bats comprising 19 different species sampled in five states of Brazil. Out of 322 bat samples collected, while 17 (5·28%) were positive to quantitative PCR forBartonellaspp. based onnuoGgene, 45 samples (13·97%) were positive to cPCR assays for hemoplasmas based on 16S rRNA gene. While seven sequences were obtained forBartonella(nuoG) (n= 3),gltA(n= 2),rpoB(n= 1),ftsZ(n= 1), five 16S rRNA sequences were obtained for hemoplasmas. In the phylogenetic analysis, theBartonellasequences clustered withBartonellagenotypes detected in bats sampled in Latin America countries. All five hemoplasmas sequences clustered together as a monophyletic group by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. The present work showed the first evidence of circulation ofBartonellaspp. and hemoplasmas among bats in Brazil.
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Becker DJ, Chumchal MM, Bentz AB, Platt SG, Czirják GÁ, Rainwater TR, Altizer S, Streicker DG. Predictors and immunological correlates of sublethal mercury exposure in vampire bats. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170073. [PMID: 28484633 PMCID: PMC5414270 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive heavy metal that often enters the environment from anthropogenic sources such as gold mining and agriculture. Chronic exposure to Hg can impair immune function, reducing the ability of animals to resist or recover from infections. How Hg influences immunity and susceptibility remains unknown for bats, which appear immunologically distinct from other mammals and are reservoir hosts of many pathogens of importance to human and animal health. We here quantify total Hg (THg) in hair collected from common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), which feed on blood and are the main reservoir hosts of rabies virus in Latin America. We examine how diet, sampling site and year, and bat demography influence THg and test the consequences of this variation for eight immune measures. In two populations from Belize, THg concentrations in bats were best explained by an interaction between long-term diet inferred from stable isotopes and year. Bats that foraged more consistently on domestic animals exhibited higher THg. However, relationships between diet and THg were evident only in 2015 but not in 2014, which could reflect recent environmental perturbations associated with agriculture. THg concentrations were low relative to values previously observed in other bat species but still correlated with bat immunity. Bats with higher THg had more neutrophils, weaker bacterial killing ability and impaired innate immunity. These patterns suggest that temporal variation in Hg exposure may impair bat innate immunity and increase susceptibility to pathogens such as bacteria. Unexpected associations between low-level Hg exposure and immune function underscore the need to better understand the environmental sources of Hg exposure in bats and the consequences for bat immunity and susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Becker
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- e-mail:
| | | | | | - Steven G. Platt
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar Program, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Gábor Á. Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas R. Rainwater
- Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center and Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC, USA
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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