Hepatocystis and Nycteria (Haemosporida) parasite infections of bats in the Central Region of Cameroon

Molecular detection of trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma livingstonei species group in diverse bat species in Central Cameroon

Bats are hosts for diverse Trypanosoma species, including trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma cruzi clade. This clade is believed to have originated in Africa and diversified in many lineages worldwide. In several geographical areas, including Cameroon, no data about trypanosomes of bats has been collected yet. In this study, we investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes of different bat species in the central region of Cameroon. Trypanosome infections were detected in six bat species of four bat families, namely Hipposideridae, Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, and Vespertilionidae, with an overall prevalence of 29% and the highest infection rate in hipposiderid bat species. All trypanosomes were identified as belonging to the Trypanosoma livingstonei species group with one clade that might represent an additional subspecies of T. livingstonei. Understanding the prevalence, distribution, and host range of parasites of this group contributes to our overall knowledge of the diversity and host specificity of trypanosome species that phylogenetically group at the base of the T. cruzi clade.

How significant are bats as potential carriers of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia?

Bats are known to harbour various pathogens and are increasingly recognised as potential reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. This paper reviews the genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in bats. The risk of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium from bats to humans appears low, with bat-specific Cryptosporidium genotypes accounting for 91.5% of Cryptosporidium-positive samples genotyped from bats worldwide, and C. parvum and C. hominis accounting for 3.4% each of typed positives, respectively. To date, there have only been sporadic detections of Giardia in bats, with no genetic characterisation of the parasite to species or assemblage level. Therefore, the role bats play as reservoirs of zoonotic Giardia spp. is unknown. To mitigate potential risks of zoonotic transmission and their public health implications, comprehensive research on Cryptosporidium and Giardia in bats is imperative. Future studies should encompass additional locations across the globe and a broader spectrum of bat species, with a focus on those adapted to urban environments.

Origin and diversity of malaria parasites and other Haemosporida

Symbionts, including parasites, are ubiquitous in all world ecosystems. Understanding the diversity of symbiont species addresses diverse questions, from the origin of infectious diseases to inferring processes shaping regional biotas. Here, we review the current approaches to studying Haemosporida's species diversity and evolutionary history. Despite the solid knowledge of species linked to diseases, such as the agents of human malaria, studies on haemosporidian phylogeny, diversity, ecology, and evolution are still limited. The available data, however, indicate that Haemosporida is an extraordinarily diverse and cosmopolitan clade of symbionts. Furthermore, this clade seems to have originated with their vertebrate hosts, particularly birds, as part of complex community level processes that we are still characterizing.

Molecular detection of blood-borne agents in vampire bats from Brazil, with the first molecular evidence of Neorickettsia sp. in Desmodus rotundus and Diphylla ecaudata

Bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) represent the second largest group of mammals. Due to their ability to fly and adapt and colonize different niches, bats act as reservoirs of several potentially zoonotic pathogens. In this context, the present work aimed to investigate, using molecular techniques, the occurrence of blood-borne agents (Anaplasmataceae, Coxiella burnetii, hemoplasmas, hemosporidians and piroplasmids) in 198 vampire bats sampled in different regions of Brazil and belonging to the species Desmodus rotundus (n=159), Diphylla ecaudata (n=31) and Diaemus youngii (n=8). All vampire bats liver samples were negative in PCR assays for Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., piroplasmids, hemosporidians and Coxiella burnetii. However, Neorickettsia sp. was detected in liver samples of 1.51% (3/198) through nested PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene in D. rotundus and D. ecaudata. This is the first study to report Neorickettsia sp. in vampire bats. Hemoplasmas were detected in 6.06% (12/198) of the liver samples using a PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene. The two 16S rRNA sequences obtained from hemoplasmas were closely related to sequences previously identified in vampire and non-hematophagous bats from Belize, Peru and Brazil. The genotypic analysis identified a high diversity of bat-associated hemoplasma genotypes from different regions of the world, emphasizing the need for studies on this subject, in order to better understand the mechanisms of co-evolution between this group of bacteria and their vertebrate hosts. The role of neotropical bat-associated Neorickettsia sp. and bats from Brazilian in the biological cycle of such agent warrant further investigation.