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Atobatele OE, Olatubi IV, Oyeku OG, Ayokunle DI, Oladosu OO, Ogunnaike TM. Analysis of COI gene, prevalence, and intensity of the bat fly Cyclopodia greeffi on roosting straw-coloured fruit bat Eidolon helvum in Southwest Nigeria. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:210-218. [PMID: 37388298 PMCID: PMC10300209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
We investigated ectoparasite diversity, interspecific infestation rates and host preference in roosting fruit bats, Eidolon helvum, from Bowen University, Southwest Nigeria. Fur of captured E. helvum were sampled monthly for ectoparasites from January 2021 to June 2022. We examined a total of 231 E. helvum and observed a significant female to male adult sex ratio (0.22:1); with 53.9% ectoparasitic infestation rate. We identified and enumerated the ectoparasite; and subjected its Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to phylogenetic analysis with other nycteribiids. COI gene sequences obtained formed a distinct clade with other C. greeffi sequences. We recovered a total of 319 (149 female and 170 male) ectoparasites and observed a balanced C. greeffi female to male adult sex ratio of 0.88:1. Ectoparasitic sex distribution had no association with host sex and season. Prevalence was significantly higher during the wet season, but not between sexes of E. helvum. The intensity of infestation, 3.7 ± 0.4 individuals per fruit bat, was significantly higher during the wet season with a bimodal seasonal distribution. The strongly male-biased host adult sex ratio had no significant influence on C. greeffi metapopulation adult sex ratio.
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Poon ESK, Chen G, Tsang HY, Shek CT, Tsui WC, Zhao H, Guénard B, Sin SYW. Species richness of bat flies and their associations with host bats in a subtropical East Asian region. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:37. [PMID: 36707856 PMCID: PMC9881358 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05663-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the interactions between bat flies and host bats offer us fundamental insights into the coevolutionary and ecological processes in host-parasite relationships. Here, we investigated the identities, host specificity, and patterns of host association of bat flies in a subtropical region in East Asia, which is an understudied region for bat fly research. METHODS We used both morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding to identify the bat fly species found on 11 cavernicolous bat species from five bat families inhabiting Hong Kong. We first determined the phylogenetic relationships among bat fly species. Then, we elucidated the patterns of bat-bat fly associations and calculated the host specificity of each bat fly species. Furthermore, we assembled the mitogenomes of three bat fly species from two families (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) to contribute to the limited bat fly genetic resources available. RESULTS We examined 641 individuals of bat flies and found 20 species, of which many appeared to be new to science. Species of Nycteribiidae included five Nycteribia spp., three Penicillidia spp., two Phthiridium spp., one Basilia sp., and one species from a hitherto unknown genus, whereas Streblidae included Brachytarsina amboinensis, three Raymondia spp., and four additional Brachytarsina spp. Our bat-bat fly association network shows that certain closely related bat flies within Nycteribiidae and Streblidae only parasitized host bat species that are phylogenetically more closely related. For example, congenerics of Raymondia only parasitized hosts in Rhinolophus and Hipposideros, which are in two closely related families in Rhinolophoidea, but not other distantly related co-roosting species. A wide spectrum of host specificity of these bat fly species was also revealed, with some bat fly species being strictly monoxenous, e.g. nycteribiid Nycteribia sp. A, Phthiridium sp. A, and streblid Raymondia sp. A, while streblid B. amboinensis is polyxenous. CONCLUSIONS The bat fly diversity and specificity uncovered in this study have shed light on the complex bat-bat fly ecology in the region, but more bat-parasite association studies are still needed in East Asian regions like China as a huge number of unknown species likely exists. We highly recommend the use of DNA barcoding to support morphological identification to reveal accurate host-ectoparasite relationships for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Shui Kei Poon
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoling Chen
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hiu Yu Tsang
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Tong Shek
- grid.484292.10000 0004 1774 1243Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Chi Tsui
- grid.484292.10000 0004 1774 1243Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huabin Zhao
- grid.49470.3e0000 0001 2331 6153Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Benoit Guénard
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon Yung Wa Sin
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China
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Tai YL, Lee YF, Kuo YM, Kuo YJ. Effects of host state and body condition on parasite infestation of bent-wing bats. Front Zool 2022; 19:12. [PMID: 35248083 PMCID: PMC8898463 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-022-00457-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ectoparasites inhabit the body surface or outgrowths of hosts and are usually detrimental to host health and wellbeing. Hosts, however, vary in quality and may lead ectoparasites to aggregate on preferred hosts, resulting in a heterogeneous distribution of parasite load among hosts. RESULTS We set out to examine the effects of host individual state and body condition on the parasite load of multiple nycteribiid and streblid bat flies and Spinturnix wing mites on eastern bent-wing bats Miniopterus fuliginosus in a tropical forest in southern Taiwan. We detected a high parasite prevalence of 98.9% among the sampled bats, with nearly 75% of the bats harboring three or more species of parasites. The parasite abundance was higher in the wet season from mid spring to early fall, coinciding with the breeding period of female bats, than in the dry winter season. In both seasonal periods, the overall parasite abundance of adult females was higher than that of adult males. Among the bats, reproductive females, particularly lactating females, exhibited a higher body condition and were generally most infested. The Penicillidia jenynsii and Nycteribia parvula bat flies showed a consistent female-biased infection pattern. The N. allotopa and Ascodipteron speiserianum flies, however, showed a tendency towards bats of a moderate to higher body condition, particularly reproductive females and adult males. CONCLUSIONS We found an overall positive correlation between parasite abundance and reproductive state and body condition of the host and female-biased parasitism for M. fuliginosus bats. However, the effects of body condition and female-biased infestation appear to be parasite species specific, and suggest that the mobility, life history, and potential inter-species interactions of the parasites may all play important roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yik Ling Tai
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701 Taiwan
| | - Ya-Fu Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701 Taiwan
| | - Yen-Min Kuo
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701 Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Kuo
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701 Taiwan
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Maier AG, Doerig C. “The sexy side of parasites” – how parasites influence host sex and how the sex of the host impacts parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 248:111462. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Walker M, Chandrasegaran K, Vinauger C, Robert MA, Childs LM. Modeling the effects of Aedes aegypti's larval environment on adult body mass at emergence. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009102. [PMID: 34807904 PMCID: PMC8608295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes vector harmful pathogens that infect millions of people every year, and developing approaches to effectively control mosquitoes is a topic of great interest. However, the success of many control measures is highly dependent upon ecological, physiological, and life history traits of mosquito species. The behavior of mosquitoes and their potential to vector pathogens can also be impacted by these traits. One trait of interest is mosquito body mass, which depends upon many factors associated with the environment in which juvenile mosquitoes develop. Our experiments examined the impact of larval density on the body mass of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are important vectors of dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and other pathogens. To investigate the interactions between the larval environment and mosquito body mass, we built a discrete time mathematical model that incorporates body mass, larval density, and food availability and fit the model to our experimental data. We considered three categories of model complexity informed by data, and selected the best model within each category using Akaike’s Information Criterion. We found that the larval environment is an important determinant of the body mass of mosquitoes upon emergence. Furthermore, we found that larval density has greater impact on body mass of adults at emergence than on development time, and that inclusion of density dependence in the survival of female aquatic stages in models is important. We discuss the implications of our results for the control of Aedes mosquitoes and on their potential to spread disease. In this work we examined how the environment in which juvenile mosquitoes develop affects their adult body size as measured by adult body mass. Adult size has potential impacts on mosquito behavior and the ability of mosquitoes to transmit disease. We used a combination of experimental work and mathematical modeling to determine important factors affecting adult mosquito body size. In our model, we incorporated potentially interacting aspects of the mosquito life cycle and traits that affect mosquito growth as juveniles. These aspects include body mass, density of the population, and level of available resource. We compared different models to determine the one that best describes the data. As mass at emergence is linked to the success of adult mosquitoes to produce offspring and to their ability transmit pathogens, we discuss how important influences on development and survival of young mosquitoes affect mosquito control and disease spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Walker
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Current address: Laboratory for Systems Medicine, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Clément Vinauger
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Robert
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Lauren M. Childs
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Pejić B, Budinski I, van Schaik J, Blagojević J. Sharing roosts but not ectoparasites: high host-specificity in bat flies and wing mites of Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Curr Zool 2021; 68:507-516. [DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Schreiber’s bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii and the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum are widespread and common cavernicolous species across southern Europe that host numerous specialized ectoparasite species. The objective of this study was to characterize the species assemblage, genetic diversity, and host specificity of bat flies (Nycteribiidae, Diptera) and wing mites (Spinturnicidae, Acari) found on these bat hosts in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Notably, while bat flies lay puparia on the cave walls and can thus be transmitted indirectly, wing mites require direct body contact for transmission. Morphological identification and sequencing of a 710-bp fragment of cytochrome oxidase I gene of 207 bat flies yielded 4 species, 3 on M. schreibersii and 1 on R. ferrumequinum. Sequencing of a 460-bp small subunit ribosomal RNA fragment, in all 190 collected wing mites revealed 2 species, 1 per host. In no case was a parasite associated with 1 host found on the other host. Species and genetic diversity of flies were higher in M. schreibersii, likely reflecting their host’s larger colony sizes and migratory potential. Mite species of both hosts showed similarly low diversity, likely due to their faster life history and lower winter survival. Our findings highlight a remarkably high host-specificity and segregation of ectoparasite species despite direct contact among their hosts in the roost, suggesting a defined host preference in the investigated ectoparasite species. Furthermore, the differences in ectoparasite genetic diversity exemplify the interplay between host and parasite life histories in shaping parasite population genetic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branka Pejić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Ivana Budinski
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Strasse 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Jelena Blagojević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
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Horn CJ, Mierzejewski MK, Elahi ME, Luong LT. Extending the ecology of fear: Parasite-mediated sexual selection drives host response to parasites. Physiol Behav 2020; 224:113041. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Szentiványi T, Estók P, Pigeault R, Christe P, Glaizot O. Effects of fungal infection on the survival of parasitic bat flies. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:23. [PMID: 31931866 PMCID: PMC6958713 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites are able to alter numerous aspects of their hosts’ life history, behaviour and distribution. One central question in parasitology is to determine the degree of impact that parasites have on their hosts. Laboulbeniales (Fungi: Ascomycota) are ectoparasitic fungi of arthropods. Even though these fungi are widely distributed, little is known about their ecology and their possible physiological effects on their hosts. We used a highly specific bat fly-fungi association to assess the effect of these fungal parasites on their dipteran hosts. Methods We collected bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) belonging to two species, Nycteribia schmidlii and Penicillidia conspicua from their bat host Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae). We experimentally tested the effect of infection on the lifespan of bat flies. Results The prevalence of Laboulbeniales fungi was 17.9% in N. schmidlii and 64.8% in P. conspicua. Two fungi species were identified, Arthrorhynchus eucampsipodae and A. nycteribiae, both showing strict host specificity with N. schmidlii and P. conspicua, respectively. We found that fungal infection reduced by half the survival rate of P. conspicua regardless of sex, whereas N. schmidlii was not affected by the infection. Moreover, the intensity of infection showed negative correlation with the lifespan of P. conspicua. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first indication that fungal infection can alter bat fly survival and thus may play a significant role in the population dynamics of these bat ectoparasites.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Szentiványi
- Museum of Zoology, Palais de Rumine, Place de la Riponne 6, 1014, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Péter Estók
- Department of Zoology, Eszterházy Károly University, Eszterházy tér 1, 3300, Eger, Hungary
| | - Romain Pigeault
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Museum of Zoology, Palais de Rumine, Place de la Riponne 6, 1014, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Szentiványi T, Christe P, Glaizot O. Bat Flies and Their Microparasites: Current Knowledge and Distribution. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:115. [PMID: 31106212 PMCID: PMC6492627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are the second most diverse mammalian group, playing keystone roles in ecosystems but also act as reservoir hosts for numerous pathogens. Due to their colonial habits which implies close contacts between individuals, bats are often parasitized by multiple species of micro- and macroparasites. The particular ecology, behavior, and environment of bat species may shape patterns of intra- and interspecific pathogen transmission, as well as the presence of specific vectorial organisms. This review synthetizes information on a multi-level parasitic system: bats, bat flies and their microparasites. Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate, hematophagous ectoparasites of bats consisting of ~500 described species. Diverse parasitic organisms have been detected in bat flies including bacteria, blood parasites, fungi, and viruses, which suggest their vectorial potential. We discuss the ecological epidemiology of microparasites, their potential physiological effects on both bats and bat flies, and potential research perspectives in the domain of bat pathogens. For simplicity, we use the term microparasite throughout this review, yet it remains unclear whether some bacteria are parasites or symbionts of their bat fly hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Szentiványi
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland
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