Bartonella spp. in Fruit Bats and Blood-Feeding Ectoparasites in Madagascar

Brook, Cara E.; Bai, Ying; Dobson, Andrew; Osikowicz, Lynn M.; Ranaivoson, Hafaliana C.; Zhu, Quanyin; Kosoy, Michael; Dittmar, Katharina

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003532

Cited by 77 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…These high levels of ectoparasite ingestion underscores new questions if bat fly consumption by the bat host is associated with regulation of their population size associated with body hygiene, a defense mechanism against parasites and/or as a dietary supplement; further, there is the potential role of this behavior in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens to the host. Bacteria of the genus Bartonella have been identified in Eidolon dupreanum , another endemic Malagasy Pteropodidae and cave-dwelling fruit bat, and from its hematophagous nycteribiid Cyclopodia dubia [4]. We suspect that with testing, R .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rates of hematophagous ectoparasite consumption during grooming by an endemic Madagascar fruit bat

2018

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BackgroundFew details are available on the consumption of ectoparasites, specifically bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae), by their chiropteran hosts while grooming. Such details are important to document consumption rates of ectoparasites by their bat host provide details on the dynamics of host-parasite interactions. We present data on ectoparasite consumption rates for an endemic Malagasy fruit bat (Pteropodidae: Rousettus madagascariensis) occupying a cave day roost colony in northern Madagascar. Using quantified behavioral analyses, grooming and associated ingestion rates were measured from infrared videos taken in close proximity to day-roosting bats. The recorded individual bats could be visually identified to age (adult, juvenile) and sex (male, female), allowing analyses of the proportion of time these different classes allocated to consuming ectoparasites via auto-grooming (self) or allo-grooming (intraspecific) per 10 min video recording session. These figures could then be extrapolated to estimates of individual daily consumption rates.ResultsBased on video recordings, adults spent significantly more time auto-grooming and allo-grooming than juveniles. The latter group was not observed consuming ectoparasites. Grooming rates and the average number of ectoparasites consumed per day did not differ between adult males and females. The mean extrapolated number consumed on a daily basis for individual adults was 37 ectoparasites. When these figures are overlaid on the estimated number of adult Rousettus occurring at the roost site during the dry season, the projected daily consumption rate was 57,905 ectoparasites.ConclusionsThe details presented here represent the first quantified data on bat consumption rates of their ectoparasites, specifically dipterans. These results provide new insights in host-parasite predation dynamics. More research is needed to explore the mechanism zoonotic diseases isolated from bat flies might be transmitted to their bat hosts, specifically those pathogens that can be communicated via an oral route.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2918-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…madagascariensis bat flies will also be found to be positive for Bartonella. Further, previous research has shown that bats are more vulnerable to bacterial infections [33], as compared to viral infections, and bacterial pathogens have been isolated from bat flies [4]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rates of hematophagous ectoparasite consumption during grooming by an endemic Madagascar fruit bat

2018

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“…Numerous studies of Bartonella in bat ectoparasites showed positive results [12,13,17,19,29–34]. Ectoparasites may play an important role in the maintenance and transmission of Bartonella among bats [10,13,35]. In consideration of the special characteristics of bats, such as long lifespan, social animals in large number, diverse species, worldwide distribution [36], bats might be important reservoirs for Bartonella species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Bartonella Species in Insectivorous Bats, Northern China

et al. 2017

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Bartonella species are emerging human pathogens. Bats are known to carry diverse Bartonella species, some of which are capable of infecting humans. However, as the second largest mammalian group by a number of species, the role of bats as the reservoirs of Bartonella species is not fully explored, in term of their species diversity and worldwide distribution. China, especially Northern China, harbors a number of endemic insectivorous bat species; however, to our knowledge, there are not yet studies about Bartonella in bats in China. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella species in bats in Northern China. Bartonella species were detected by PCR amplification of gltA gene in 25.2% (27/107) bats in Mengyin County, Shandong Province of China, including 1/3 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, 2/10 Rhinolophus pusillus, 9/16 Myotis fimbriatus, 1/5 Myotis ricketti, 14/58 Myotis pequinius. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Bartonella species detected in bats in this study clustered into ten groups, and some might be novel Bartonella species. An association between Bartonella species and bat species was demonstrated and co-infection with different Bartonella species in a single bat was also observed. Our findings expanded our knowledge on the genetic diversity of Bartonella in bats, and shed light on the ecology of bat-borne Bartonella species.

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“…This compiled data from the literature included partial citrate synthase gene sequences ( gltA ) for Bartonella genotypes from bats and ectoparasites (bat flies and fleas) from the UK, Guatemala, Peru, Taiwan, Finland, Puerto Rico, multiple countries in Africa, Costa Rica, and Vietnam (Anh et al, 2015; Bai et al, 2015, 2012, 2011; Billeter et al, 2012; Brook et al, 2015; Concannon et al, 2005; Judson et al, 2015; Kamani et al, 2014; Kosoy et al, 2010; Lin et al, 2012; Morse et al, 2012; Olival et al, 2015; Veikkolainen et al, 2014). The gltA gene has been shown to provide good phylogenetic resolution among known Bartonella species and subspecies (Norman et al, 1995) and is widely used for detection of bartonella infections.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the more than 30 described Bartonella species, around half have been identified as human pathogens causing a range of illnesses from mild fever to potentially fatal endocarditis (Breitschwerdt et al, 2010; Chomel and Kasten, 2010). Numerous studies have demonstrated that bats and their ectoparasites show a high prevalence and genetic diversity of bartonella bacteria (Anh et al, 2015; Bai et al, 2015, 2012, 2011; Brook et al, 2015; Concannon et al, 2005; Judson et al, 2015; Kamani et al, 2014; Kosoy et al, 2010; Lin et al, 2012; Olival et al, 2015; Reeves et al, 2007, 2005; Veikkolainen et al, 2014). Recently, bats have been implicated in potential spillover of bartonellae into dogs (Bai et al, 2010; Lin et al, 2012) and a single human case (Lin et al, 2010; Veikkolainen et al, 2014), although the role of bats as sources of zoonotic bartonellosis is still unclear (Mannerings et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic and geographic patterns of bartonella host shifts among bat species

McKee

Hayman

Kosoy

et al. 2016

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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The influence of factors contributing to parasite diversity in individual hosts and communities are increasingly studied, but there has been less focus on the dominant processes leading to parasite diversification. Using bartonella infections in bats as a model system, we explored the influence of three processes that can contribute to bartonella diversification and lineage formation: (1) spatial correlation in the invasion and transmission of bartonella among bats (phylogeography); (2) divergent adaptation of bartonellae to bat hosts and arthropod vectors; and (3) evolutionary codivergence between bats and bartonellae. Using a combination of global fit techniques and ancestral state reconstruction, we found that codivergence appears to be the dominant process leading to diversification of bartonella in bats, with lineages of bartonellae corresponding to separate bat suborders, superfamilies, and families. Furthermore, we estimated the rates at which bartonellae shift bat hosts across taxonomic scales (suborders, superfamilies, and families) and found that transition rates decrease with increasing taxonomic distance, providing support for a mechanism that can contribute to the observed evolutionary congruence between bats and their associated bartonellae. While bartonella diversification is associated with host sympatry, the influence of this factor is minor compared to the influence of codivergence and there is a clear indication that some bartonella lineages span multiple regions, particularly between Africa and Southeast Asia. Divergent adaptation of bartonellae to bat hosts and arthropod vectors is apparent and can dilute the overall pattern of codivergence, however its importance in the formation of Bartonella lineages in bats is small relative to codivergence. We argue that exploring all three of these processes yields a more complete understanding of bat-bartonella relationships and the evolution of the genus Bartonella, generally. Application of these methods to other infectious bacteria and viruses could uncover common processes that lead to parasite diversification and the formation of host-parasite relationships.

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Bartonella spp. in Fruit Bats and Blood-Feeding Ectoparasites in Madagascar

Cited by 77 publications

References 19 publications

Rates of hematophagous ectoparasite consumption during grooming by an endemic Madagascar fruit bat

Rates of hematophagous ectoparasite consumption during grooming by an endemic Madagascar fruit bat

Novel Bartonella Species in Insectivorous Bats, Northern China

Phylogenetic and geographic patterns of bartonella host shifts among bat species

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