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de Mello VVC, de Oliveira LB, Coelho TFSB, Lee DAB, Franco EO, Machado RZ, André MR. Molecular survey of hemoplasmas and Coxiella burnetii in vampire bats from northern Brazil. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 106:102127. [PMID: 38277904 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
In addition to zoonotic viral pathogens, bats can also harbor bacterial pathogens, including hemoplasmas (hemotropic mycoplasmas) and Coxiella burnetii. The present study aimed to investigate, using molecular techniques, the presence of hemoplasmas and C. burnetii in spleen samples from vampire bats in northern Brazil. For this purpose, between 2017 and 2019, spleen samples were collected from Desmodus rotundus (n = 228) and Diaemus youngii (n = 1) captured in the states of Pará (n = 207), Amazonas (n = 1), Roraima (n = 18) and Amapá (n = 3). DNA samples extracted from the bat spleen and positive in PCR for the endogenous gapdh gene were subjected to conventional PCR assays for the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and RNAse P genes from hemoplasmas and to qPCR based on the IS1111 gene element for C. burnetii. All spleen samples from vampire bats were negative in the qPCR for C. burnetii. Hemoplasmas were detected in 10 % (23/229) of spleen samples using a PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene. Of these, 21.73 % (5/23) were positive for the 23S rRNA gene and none for the RNAseP gene. The seven hemoplasma 16S rRNA sequences obtained were closely related to sequences previously identified in vampire bats from Belize, Peru and Brazil. The 23S rRNA sequence obtained revealed genetic proximity to hemoplasmas from non-hematophagous bats from Brazil and Belize. The analysis revealed different circulating genotypes among Brazilian vampire bats, in addition to a trend towards genera-specific hemoplasma genotypes. The present study contributes to the knowledge of the wide diversity of hemoplasmas in vampire bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victória Valente Califre de Mello
- Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil; Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Laryssa Borges de Oliveira
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Antonio Braga Lee
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliz Oliveira Franco
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
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Wang R, Li ZM, Peng QM, Gu XL, Zhou CM, Xiao X, Han HJ, Yu XJ. High prevalence and genetic diversity of hemoplasmas in bats and bat ectoparasites from China. One Health 2023; 16:100498. [PMID: 36844977 PMCID: PMC9947411 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100498] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemoplasmas can cause severe hemolytic anemia in humans. To explore the genetic diversity and the potential transmission routes of hemoplasmas among bat population, bats and bat-ectoparasites including bat-flies, bat-mites, and bat-ticks were collected in Eastern and Central China from 2015 to 2021, and tested with PCR for hemoplasmas 16S rRNA gene. Based on 16S rRNA PCR, 18.0% (103/572) adult bats were positive for hemoplasmas, but none of 11 fetuses from hemoplasmas-positive pregnant bats was positive for hemoplasmas. These results indicated that adult bats had a high prevalence of hemoplasma, but vertical transmission of hemoplasmas did not occurr in the bats. Based on the 16S rRNA gene PCR, the minimum infection rate of bat-ectoparasite for hemoplasmas was 4.0% (27/676), suggesting that bat-ectoparasite also had a high prevalence for hemoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that bat hemoplasmas from this study clustered into 4 genotypes (I-IV). Genotype I clustered together with hemoplasmas identified in bats from America. Genotype II shared high similarity with a human-pathogenic hemoplasma Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis. Genotype III and IV were unique, representing 2 new hemoplasma genotypes. Only genotype I was identified in both bats and all bat-ectoparasites including bat-flies, bat-mites, and bat-ticks. In conclusion, bats and bat-ectoparasites from China harbored abundant genetically diverse hemoplasmas including potential human-pathogenic hemoplasmas, indicating bats and bat-ectoparasites may play important roles in the maintenance and transmission of hemoplasmas in the natural foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ze-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiu-Ming Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chuan-Min Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Institute of Epidemiology Research, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui-Ju Han
- School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong, Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Corresponding authors.
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Novel passive detection approach reveals low breeding season survival and apparent lactation cost in a critically endangered cave bat. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7390. [PMID: 35513411 PMCID: PMC9072322 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Capture-mark-recapture/resight (CMR) methods are used for survival-rate studies, yet are often limited by small sample sizes. Advances in passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology have enabled passive detection or ‘resight’ of marked individuals using large antennas with greater read-ranges than previously possible. We used passively-detected resight data and CMR models to study survival rates of the southern bent-winged bat Miniopterus orianae bassanii, a critically endangered, cave-dwelling bat. Over three years, we used PIT-tagging to monitor 2966 individuals at the species’ largest breeding aggregation, using daily detection data (> 1.6 million detections) to estimate seasonal survival probabilities, structured by age, sex and reproductive status, and parameterise population projection matrices. This has hitherto been impossible using traditional CMR methods due to disturbance risk and low recapture rates. Bats exhibited lowest apparent seasonal survival over summer and autumn, particularly for reproductive females in summer (when lactating) and juveniles in autumn (after weaning), and high survival in winter. Lowest survival rates coincided with severe drought in summer–autumn 2016, suggesting that dry conditions affect population viability. Under all likely demographic assumptions, population projection matrices suggested the population is in deterministic decline, requiring urgent action to reduce extinction risk. Passively-collected resight data can now be used in combination with CMR models to provide extensive, robust information for targeted wildlife population management.
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Molecular detection and genotype diversity of hemoplasmas in non-hematophagous bats and associated ectoparasites sampled in peri-urban areas from Brazil. Acta Trop 2022; 225:106203. [PMID: 34688630 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hemoplasmas have already been detected in bats in the United States of America, Spain, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Belize, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Germany, Switzerland and New Caledonia. The recent detection of hemoplasmas closely related to Mycoplasma haematohominis, an agent causing disease in humans, emphasizes the need for additional studies on the diversity of hemoplasmas in bats. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence and assess the phylogenetic positioning and genetic diversity of hemoplasmas in bats and associated ectoparasites sampled in central-western Brazil. Overall, 43% (58/135) sampled bats and 1.56% (1/64) bat flies (Megistopoda aranea) were positive for hemoplasmas, however, twenty-four and two hemoplasma sequences were obtained from PCR assays targeting 16S and 23S rRNA genes, respectively, since the majority of the obtained amplicons showed faint bands in agarose gel electrophoresis. The obtained 16S rRNA sequences showed to be broadly distributed along the phylogenetic tree, albeit positioned within the 'Haemofelis group' and clustering with other bat-associated hemoplasmas. Twelve 16S rRNA hemoplasma genotypes were found among the 24 obtained sequences. When compared to other bat-related hemoplasmas sequences retrieved from the Genbank, 52 genotypes were found. The two 23S rRNA sequences obtained were positioned as a sister clade to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematohydrochaerus", M. haemofelis and M. haemocanis. High genetic diversity was found among 16S rRNA hemoplasma sequences detected in non-hematophagous bats from central-western Brazil and previously detected in other regions of the world. Even though the genotype analysis showed that hemoplasmas from the same genus tend to group together, the results from the unipartite and bipartite analyses did not robustly support the hypothesis. Further studies addressing the specificity of hemoplasma genotypes according to bat species and genera should be performed.
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Minozzo GA, da Silva Mathias B, Riediger IN, de Oliveira Guimarães L, dos Anjos CC, Monteiro EF, dos Santos AP, Biondo AW, Kirchgatter K. First Molecular Detection of Polychromophilus Parasites in Brazilian Bat Species. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061240. [PMID: 34200516 PMCID: PMC8230147 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood parasites of the Haemosporida order, such as the Plasmodium spp. responsible for malaria, have become the focus of many studies in evolutionary biology. However, there is a lack of molecular investigation of haemosporidian parasites of wildlife, such as the genus Polychromophilus. Species of this neglected genus exclusively have been described in bats, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but little is known about its presence and genetic diversity on the American continent. Here, we investigated 406 bats from sites inserted in remnant fragments of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes and urbanized areas from southern Brazil for the presence of Polychromophilus species by PCR of the mitochondrial cytochrome b encoding gene. A total of 1.2% of bats was positive for Polychromophilus, providing the first molecular information of these parasites in Myotis riparius and Eptesicus diminutus, common vespertilionid bats widely distributed in different Brazilian biomes, and Myotis ruber, an endangered species. A Bayesian analysis was conducted to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between Polychromophilus recovered from Brazilian bats and those identified elsewhere. Sequences of Brazilian Polychromophilus lineages were placed with P. murinus and in a clade distinct from P. melanipherus, mainly restricted to bats in the family Vespertilionidae. However, the sequences were split into two minor clades, according to the genus of hosts, indicating that P. murinus and a distinct species may be circulating in Brazil. Morphological observations combined with additional molecular studies are needed to conclude and describe these Polychromophilus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Augusto Minozzo
- Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná, São José dos Pinhais 83060-500, PR, Brazil; (G.A.M.); (I.N.R.)
| | - Bruno da Silva Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | - Irina Nastassja Riediger
- Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná, São José dos Pinhais 83060-500, PR, Brazil; (G.A.M.); (I.N.R.)
| | - Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000b, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carolina Clares dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | - Eliana Ferreira Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | | | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil;
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000b, SP, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
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Alcorn K, Gerrard J, Cochrane T, Graham R, Jennison A, Irwin PJ, Barbosa AD. First Report of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis Infection in Australia Causing Persistent Fever in an Animal Carer. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:634-640. [PMID: 32006025 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) infect animals and humans and can lead to clinical syndromes mainly characterized by hemolytic anemia. A novel pathogen, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis, was recently associated with a case of human hemoplasmosis in Europe. Here we report the first detection of this pathogen in an Australian patient exhibiting persistent fever, hemolytic anemia, and pancytopenia over a 10-month period. METHODS After exhaustive negative testing for human infectious diseases, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on the patient's bone marrow aspirate, using an Illumina NextSeq500 platform. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by Sanger sequencing, was then performed on blood samples using novel Mycoplasma-specific primers targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. In addition, a Mycoplasma-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was developed to differentiate Mycoplasma cells from other erythrocyte inclusions (eg, Pappenheimer and Howell-Jolly bodies) which are morphologically similar to bacterial cocci by light microscopy. RESULTS WGS analysis revealed that approximately 0.04% of the total number of unmapped reads to human genome corresponded to Mycoplasma species. A 1-kb Mycoplasma 16S fragment was successfully amplified by conventional PCR, and sequence analyses revealed 100% identity with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis. FISH confirmed that several (approximately 2%) epierythrocytic inclusions initially observed by light microscopy corresponded to Mycoplasma cells. CONCLUSIONS This represents the second report of hemolytic anemia associated with hemoplasma infection in a human, and the first report of human hemoplasmosis in Australia. This study highlights the importance of new and emerging diagnostic approaches and need for further investigations on the epidemiology of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie Alcorn
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Gold Coast Health Service, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - John Gerrard
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Gold Coast Health Service, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Tara Cochrane
- Department of Haematology, Gold Coast University Hospital and Griffiths University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Rikki Graham
- Public Health Microbiology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amy Jennison
- Public Health Microbiology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter J Irwin
- Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Amanda D Barbosa
- Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.,CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, Brazil
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Sándor AD, Péter Á, Corduneanu A, Barti L, Csősz I, Kalmár Z, Hornok S, Kontschán J, Mihalca AD. Wide Distribution and Diversity of Malaria-Related Haemosporidian Parasites ( Polychromophilus spp.) in Bats and Their Ectoparasites in Eastern Europe. Microorganisms 2021; 9:230. [PMID: 33499324 PMCID: PMC7911978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for major diseases of humans, while associated haemosporidians are important factors in regulating wildlife populations. Polychromophilus, a haemosporidian parasite of bats, is phylogenetically close to human-pathogenic Plasmodium species, and their study may provide further clues for understanding the evolutionary relationships between vertebrates and malarial parasites. Our aim was to investigate the distribution of Polychromophilus spp. in Eastern Europe and test the importance of host ecology and roost site on haemosporidian parasite infection of bats. We sampled bats and their ectoparasites at eight locations in Romania and Bulgaria. DNA was extracted from blood samples and ectoparasites and tested individually for the presence of DNA of Polychromophilus spp. using a nested PCR targeting a 705 bp fragment of cytB. Two species of Polychromophilus were identified: Po. melanipherus in Miniopterus schreibersii and associated ectoparasites and Po. murinus in rhinolophid and vespertilionid bats (6 species) and their ticks and nycteribiid flies. Only cave-dwelling bat species (and their ectoparasites) showed infections, and we found a strong correlation between infections with Polychromophilus parasites and Nycteribiidae prevalence. We report the high genetic diversity of Polychromophilus spp. in Eastern Europe, suggesting that the simultaneous presence of varied host and vector assemblages enhances bat haemosporidian parasite diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Levente Barti
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, RO-530171 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania;
| | - István Csősz
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, RO-530171 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania;
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, ELKH, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Andrei D. Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
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Corduneanu A, Mihalca AD, Sándor AD, Hornok S, Malmberg M, Viso NP, Bongcam-Rudloff E. The heart microbiome of insectivorous bats from Central and South Eastern Europe. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 75:101605. [PMID: 33421678 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Host associated microbiome not only may affect the individual health-status or provide insights into the species- or group specific bacterial communities but may act as early warning signs in the assessment of zoonotic reservoirs, offering clues to predict, prevent and control possible episodes of emerging zoonoses. Bats may be carriers and reservoirs of multiple pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, showing in the same time robust immunity against many of them. The microbiota plays a fundamental role on the induction, training and function of the host immune system and the immune system has largely evolved in order to maintain the symbiotic relationship of the host with these diverse microbes. Thus, expanding our knowledge on bat-associated microbiome it can be usefully in understanding bats' outstanding immune capacities. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of different bacterial communities in heart tissue of insectivorous bats, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Rhinoplophus hipposideros, from Central and Eastern Europe using high-throughput sequencing of variable regions of the 16S rRNA. In addition, species-specific PCRs were used to validate the presence of the vector-borne pathogens Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. In this study we identified a wide variety of bacterial groups, with the most abundant phyla being Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The results showed that at individual level, the year or location had no effect on the diversity and composition of the microbiome, however host species determined both structure and abundance of the bacterial community. We report the presence of vector-borne bacteria Bartonella spp. in samples of N. noctula and indications of Rickettsia spp. in R. hipposideros. Our results provide a first insight into the bacterial community found in heart tissue of bats from Central and South Eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maja Malmberg
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; SLU Global Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Natalia Pin Viso
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, 1425, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular, IABiMo, INTA-CONICET, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, Castelar, 1712, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- SLU Global Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Di Cataldo S, Kamani J, Cevidanes A, Msheliza EG, Millán J. Hemotropic mycoplasmas in bats captured near human settlements in Nigeria. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 70:101448. [PMID: 32109761 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The presence of DNA of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) was investigated for the first time in bats in Africa. Blood samples from 90 bats captured within or near human settlements in nine study areas from five states in Nigeria belonging to six genera of the families Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, and Molossidae were analyzed using conventional PCR protocol targeting a 391 bp part of the 16S rRNA gene. Of these, 32 samples (35 %) resulted positive. Eight nucleotide sequence types were identified, which were assigned to five genotypes showing between 93-99 % similarity with hemoplasmas from bats and/or rodents from other parts of the world, and/or Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis from a human patient. Network analysis showed genetic structure of hemoplasma sequences among bat species, but some sequences were shared among bats of different taxonomic groups and distant study areas. Further characterization of the samples using a protocol targeting ∼1200 bp of the 16S rRNA gene resulted in seven sequences that confirmed the results of the screening protocol. Hemoplasmas in Nigerian bats are prevalent, widely distributed and genetically diverse. The zoonotic risk to local inhabitants should not be neglected, due to the high similarity of some of the retrieved sequences with the human pathogen C. M. haemohominis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Di Cataldo
- PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joshua Kamani
- Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emmanuel G Msheliza
- Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Javier Millán
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile; Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain; Fundación ARAID, Avda. de Ranillas, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
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TRAUMA FOUND TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CAUSE OF DEATH IN A PATHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF BENT-WINGED BATS ( MINIOPTERUS ORIANAE ). J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 50:966-971. [PMID: 31926529 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the causes of mortality in endangered species is essential to understanding the possible reasons behind their decline and to facilitating the implementation of mitigating steps. The southern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) is a critically endangered Australian bat whose population numbers have decreased over the past 50 years. As part of a larger investigation to determine if disease could be a contributing factor to the decline, 27 southern bent-winged bats and one closely related eastern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis) that died during the study were necropsied and examined histologically. Trauma was the most common cause of death in the southern bent-winged bats, which mostly occurred at one site where fencing and other infrastructure was positioned around a key breeding cave. In response to these findings, management actions have been implemented to reduce this infrastructure-associated mortality of southern bent-winged bats. The single eastern bent-winged bat examined had a severe dermatitis caused by the mite Notoedres muris.
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