Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) infesting cave-dwelling bats in Gabon: diversity, dynamics and potential role in Polychromophilus melanipherus transmission

Obame-Nkoghe, Judicaël; Rahola, Nil; Bourgarel, Mathieu; Yangari, Patrick; Prugnolle, Franck; Maganga, Gaël Darren; Leroy, Eric M.; Fontenille, Didier; Ayala, Diégo; Paupy, Christophe

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1625-z

Cited by 41 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…This pattern is contrary to that which could be expected from bats that share caves or roosts over long periods. For example, it has been observed that bat species that share caves or roosts are prone to becoming infested by ectoparasites of other species (Obame-Nkoghe et al 2016). One possible explanation of the low ectoparasite overlap between bat species in cold and warm seasons is that the bats had low abundance and utilized separate roosts inside the cave.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of seasonality on host–bat fly ecological networks in a temperate mountain cave

et al. 2016

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Changes in the specialization of parasite-host interactions will be influenced by variations in host species composition. We evaluated this hypothesis by comparing the composition of bats and bat flies within a roost cave over one annual. Five bat and five bat fly species occupied the cave over the course of the study. Bat species composition was 40% different in the rainy season compared with the dry-cold and dry-warm seasons. Despite the incorporation of three new bat species into the cave during the rainy season, bat fly species composition was not affected by seasonality, since the bats that arrived in the rainy season only contributed one new bat fly species at a low prevalence. Bat-bat fly ecological networks were less specialized in the rainy season compared with the dry-cold and dry-warm seasons because of the increase of host overlap among bat fly species during this season. This study suggests that seasonality promote: (1) differences in host species composition, and (2) a reduction in the specialization of host-parasite ecological networks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of seasonality on host–bat fly ecological networks in a temperate mountain cave

et al. 2016

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“…Another facet of this research has shown that bat ectoparasites, specifically hematophagous bat flies of the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, are possible reservoirs and vectors for different zoonotic diseases, e.g. bacteria such as Bartonella and Rickettsia [3–5]; viruses such as rhabdovirus [6, 7]; and protozoans including the hematoparasite Polychromophilus [8, 9]. Hence, there is indirect evidence that bat ectoparasites may be responsible for the transmission of infectious diseases to their hosts, although it remains to be demonstrated that this could be via an oral route, specifically direct consumption of ectoparasites by bats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…Polychromophilus melanipherus has been recorded from presumptive eastern bent-winged bats in NSW and Queensland (Dew and McMillan, 1970; Mackerras, 1959). Bat flies, which are common, haematophagous external parasites of bats, are the accepted intermediate host (Dew and McMillan, 1970; Gardner and Molyneux, 1988; Mackerras, 1959; Obame-Nkoghe et al, 2016). The life cycle for P. murinus has been described (Gardner and Molyneux, 1988) and is assumed to be similar for P. melanipherus .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychromophilus melanipherus and haemoplasma infections not associated with clinical signs in southern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) and eastern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis)

Holz

Lumsden

Legione

et al. 2019

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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While bats are often viewed as carriers of infectious disease agents, little research has been conducted on the effects these pathogens may have on the bat populations themselves. The southern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) is a critically endangered subspecies endemic to south-eastern Australia. Population numbers of this bat have declined over the past 50 years, but the reasons for this are unclear. As part of a larger study to determine if disease could be a contributing factor to this decline, southern bent-winged bats from several locations in Victoria and South Australia were captured and examined for the presence of the blood parasite, Polychromophilus melanipherus, and haemoplasmas (Mycoplasma sp.). Results were compared with those obtained from populations of the more common, partially sympatric, eastern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis) from three different locations in Victoria. Both organisms were found in both subspecies (prevalence of P. melanipherus 60% by PCR for southern bent-winged bats compared with 46% for eastern bent-winged bats; prevalence of haemoplasmas 10% for southern bent-winged bats compared with 8% for eastern bent-winged bats), with no association between the probability of infection, body weight, abnormal blood parameters or any other indicators of ill health. However, Victorian southern bent-winged bats had heavier burdens of P. melanipherus than both the South Australian southern bent-winged bats and eastern bent-winged bats. Further investigations are required to determine if these differences are impacting population health.

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Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) infesting cave-dwelling bats in Gabon: diversity, dynamics and potential role in Polychromophilus melanipherus transmission

Cited by 41 publications

References 47 publications

The effects of seasonality on host–bat fly ecological networks in a temperate mountain cave

The effects of seasonality on host–bat fly ecological networks in a temperate mountain cave

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

Polychromophilus melanipherus and haemoplasma infections not associated with clinical signs in southern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) and eastern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis)

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