Host preferences of bat flies: following the bloody path of stable isotopes in a host–parasite food chain

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian C Voigt ◽  
Detlev H Kelm
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Host Individual ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
C Value ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Almost All

Almost all mammals are infested with ectoparasites, but even though parasites may have a strong impact on their host, their host specificity is often unknown. We studied the host preferences of two bat fly species, Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1856 and Trichobius parasiticus Gervais, 1844, identified on the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810), using stable carbon isotopes. Since D. rotundus was part of the C4 food web and other bats sharing the roost with D. rotundus were part of the C3 food web, bat flies were exposed to two isotopically distinct potential hosts. The δ13C values of the two bat fly species collected from D. rotundus were similar (–11.5‰ ± 1.1‰ (mean ± SD) for S. wiedemanni and –12.4‰ ± 1.9‰ for T. parasiticus) and identified them as members of the C4 food web, although their δ13C value was significantly lower by –1.7‰ ± 2.6‰ than that of the corresponding host individual. The δ13C value of bat flies collected from Carollia perspicillata (L., 1758) sharing roosts with D. rotundus averaged –24.2‰ ± 0.3‰, which was also significantly lower by –1.3‰ ± 1.1‰ than the host's δ13C value. We concluded that the negative shift in δ13C of D. rotundus bat flies relative to the host individual was caused by isotopic fractionation rather than by a mixed diet. The enrichment in nitrogen-15 from S. wiedemanni and T. parasiticus to D. rotundus equaled 2.3‰, which indicates one trophic step between the host and the parasite. In summary, both bat fly species preferred D. rotundus over other bat species and are therefore truly monoxenous parasites.

Seasonal variation of bat-flies (Diptera: Streblidae) in four bat species from a tropical dry forest

Mammalia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria B. Salinas-Ramos ◽  
Alejandro Zaldívar-Riverón ◽  
Andrea Rebollo-Hernández ◽  
L. Gerardo Herrera-M
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

AbstractSeasonality of climate promotes differences in abundance and species composition of parasites, affecting host-parasite interactions. Studies have reported seasonal variation in bat-flies, which are obligate bat ectoparasites. We characterized the bat-fly load of three insectivores [Pteronotus davyi(Gray),Pteronotus parnellii(Gray) andPteronotus personatus(Wagner)] and one nectarivorous [Leptonycteris yerbabuenae(Martínez and Villa-R.)] bat species in a tropical dry forest to test the existence of seasonality in response to the availability of resources during the wet and dry seasons. We collected 3710 bat-fly specimens belonging to six species and two genera from 497 bats. Most of the ectoparasite load parameters examined (mean abundance, mean intensity, richness, etc.), including comparisons among reproductive conditions and sex of the host, were similar in both seasons. Prevalence was the parameter that varied the most between seasons. The six bat-fly species were found in all bat species exceptP. personatus. The latter species andL. yerbabuenaehad four and five bat-fly species in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This study provides significant information of ectoparasites ecology in relation to seasonality, contributes to the understanding of host-parasite relationships in tropical dry forests and discusses the relevance of the abiotic and biotic factors that could impact host-parasite interactions.

scholarly journals Hyperparasitism in caves: bats, bat flies and ectoparasitic fungus

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrine Jensen ◽  
Luísa Rodrigues ◽  
Thomas Pape ◽  
Anders Garm ◽  
Sergi Santamaria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Unique Case ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Entire Life ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Peculiar Case

Bat flies (Nycteribiidae) of the order Diptera are highly specialized bloodsucking ectoparasites living on bats. The life-cycle of the bat flies emphasizes their obligate relationship with their hosts as they spend almost their entire life on bats. Upon mating, the female bat fly carries the larvae internally until the 3rd-instar when it deposits the larvae on the ceiling of the roost occupied by bats. The larvae then form a puparium. After 3-4 weeks the adult bat fly emerges from the puparium and starts searching for a host bat to colonize. Some of these ectoparasitic bat flies themselves are infected with an ectoparasitic fungus of the genus Arthrorhynchus (Laboulbeniales). Ascospores of the fungi attach themselves to the cuticle of the bat fly and develop a very conspicuous haustorium that penetrates into the soft tissues from where it presumably extract nutrition from the hemolymph of the bat flies. This interaction converts the fungus into a hyperparasite. Both the parasite and hyperparasite are obligates and cannot live separate from their hosts. This peculiar case of hyperparasitism remains highly unknown. The bat flies were collected in caves of Portugal, in maternity and hibernation bat seasons, and in the autumn migration period. The most common species of cave-dwelling bat species in Portugal is Miniopterus schreibersii, frequently parasitized with Nycteribia schmidlii and Penicillidia conspicua bat flies. We have studied the prevalence of the Laboulbeniales of the genus Arthrorhynchus in natural populations of bat flies. The site and position of the fungus on male and female bat flies unveils the mechanism of fungal transmission among bat flies, indicating that it occurs during mating behavior. This study is the starting point towards the understanding of this unique case of fungus-insect-vertebrate hyperparasitism interaction. See Suppl. material 1.

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

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. 692-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARINA D. RIVERA-GARCÍA ◽  
CÉSAR A. SANDOVAL-RUIZ ◽  
ROMEO A. SALDAÑA-VÁZQUEZ ◽  
JORGE E. SCHONDUBE
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Ecological Networks ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Host Parasite

SUMMARYChanges 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.

Use of antidepressants in patients with depression and comorbid diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subethini Roopan ◽  
Erik Roj Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Maintenance Phase ◽  
Tricyclic Antidepressant ◽  
Favourable Effect ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Design And Methods

ObjectiveDepression may be difficult to treat and with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) it is an even bigger challenge. This article aims to evaluate antidepressants most suitable for patients with depression and comorbid DM.Design and methodsInitially we searched for randomised, controlled double-blind trials of treatment with antidepressants in depressed with DM but there were only a few studies and many of them were small trials. Thus, we decided to include studies that were not only randomised-controlled trials. In total, we ended up with 18 articles for our purposes.ResultsThe combination of depression and DM may be harmful as depression has a strong impact on psychosocial and medical outcomes in patients with DM. Almost all of the trials in this review showed a reduction in depressive symptoms after treatment with an antidepressant in the acute as well as during maintenance phase. It showed that depression improvement had a favourable effect on glycaemic control that was weight independent. Some studies included only subjects with minor depression or with suboptimal-controlled diabetes making it difficult to show an effect.ConclusionFrom these data, we will recommend choosing an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) if possible to treat a depression among patients with diabetes. If treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant is needed, closer glycaemic monitoring is recommended. Bear in mind that there is a possible risk of hypoglycemia when using SSRIs. Agomelatine and bupropion have shown promising results, but need to be investigated in more trials.

scholarly journals Isotopic fractionation of carbon during uptake by phytoplankton across the South Atlantic subtropical convergence

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3621-3635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn E. Tuerena ◽  
Raja S. Ganeshram ◽  
Matthew P. Humphreys ◽  
Thomas J. Browning ◽  
Heather Bouman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
The South ◽  
Marine Food Web ◽  
Marine Food

Abstract. The stable isotopic composition of particulate organic carbon (δ13CPOC) in the surface waters of the global ocean can vary with the aqueous CO2 concentration ([CO2(aq)]) and affects the trophic transfer of carbon isotopes in the marine food web. Other factors such as cell size, growth rate and carbon concentrating mechanisms decouple this observed correlation. Here, the variability in δ13CPOC is investigated in surface waters across the south subtropical convergence (SSTC) in the Atlantic Ocean, to determine carbon isotope fractionation (εp) by phytoplankton and the contrasting mechanisms of carbon uptake in the subantarctic and subtropical water masses. Our results indicate that cell size is the primary determinant of δ13CPOC across the Atlantic SSTC in summer. Combining cell size estimates with CO2 concentrations, we can accurately estimate εp within the varying surface water masses in this region. We further utilize these results to investigate future changes in εp with increased anthropogenic carbon availability. Our results suggest that smaller cells, which are prevalent in the subtropical ocean, will respond less to increased [CO2(aq)] than the larger cells found south of the SSTC and in the wider Southern Ocean. In the subantarctic water masses, isotopic fractionation during carbon uptake will likely increase, both with increasing CO2 availability to the cell, but also if increased stratification leads to decreases in average community cell size. Coupled with decreasing δ13C of [CO2(aq)] due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions, this change in isotopic fractionation and lowering of δ13CPOC may propagate through the marine food web, with implications for the use of δ13CPOC as a tracer of dietary sources in the marine environment.

Combined use of radiocarbon and stable carbon isotopes for the source mixing model in a stream food web

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 2688-2696
Author(s):  
Naoto F. Ishikawa ◽  
Jacques C. Finlay ◽  
Hiromi Uno ◽  
Nanako O. Ogawa ◽  
Naohiko Ohkouchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Mixing Model ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Combined Use

Seasonality of stable carbon isotopes within the pelagic food web of Lake Kinneret

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1030-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamar Zohary ◽  
Jonathan Erez ◽  
Moshe Gophen ◽  
Ilana Berman-Frank ◽  
Mariana Stiller
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Lake Kinneret ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Pelagic Food Web

scholarly journals Isotopic fractionation of carbon during uptake by phytoplankton across the South Atlantic subtropical convergence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn E. Tuerena ◽  
Raja S. Ganeshram ◽  
Matthew P. Humphreys ◽  
Thomas J. Browning ◽  
Heather Bouman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
The South ◽  
Marine Food Web ◽  
Marine Food

Abstract. The stable isotopic composition of particulate organic carbon (δ13CPOC) in the surface waters of the global ocean can vary with the aqueous CO2 concentration ([CO2(aq)]) and affects the trophic transfer of carbon isotopes in the marine food web. Other factors such as cell size, growth rate and carbon concentrating mechanisms decouple this observed correlation. Here, the variability in δ13CPOC is investigated in surface waters across the south subtropical convergence (SSTC) in the Atlantic Ocean, to determine carbon isotope fractionation (εp) by phytoplankton and the contrasting mechanisms of carbon uptake in the subantarctic and subtropical water masses. Our results indicate that cell size is the primary determinant of δ13CPOC across the Atlantic SSTC in summer. Combining cell size estimates with CO2 concentrations, we can accurately estimate εp within the varying surface water masses in this region. We further utilize these results to investigate future changes in εp with increased anthropogenic carbon availability. Our results suggest that smaller cells, which are prevalent in the subtropical ocean, will respond less to increased [CO2(aq)] than the larger cells found south of the SSTC and in the wider Southern Ocean. In the subantarctic water masses, isotopic fractionation during carbon uptake will likely increase, both with increasing CO2 availability to the cell, but also if increased stratification leads to decreases in average community cell size. Coupled with decreasing δ13C of [CO2(aq)] due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions, this change in isotopic fractionation and lowering of δ13CPOC may propagate through the marine food web, with implications for the use of δ13CPOC as a tracer of dietary sources in the marine environment.

scholarly journals Diversity and ecology of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae, Streblidae) from Cat Ba National Park

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thanh Luong ◽  
Ta Huy Thinh ◽  
Vu Dinh Thong
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Plastic Tube ◽  
Biological Resources ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Pure Alcohol ◽  
The Family ◽  
Paper Citation ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Ecological Correlation ◽  
High Diversity

Cat Ba National Park contains a high diversity fauna of bats including a species endemic to Vietnam. Since 1999, we conducted a series of bat surveys in the park with an investigation into bat files. All individuals of flies collected from each bat individual were preserved in a plastic tube filled with pure alcohol. They were analysed and identified at the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources. Results from our research provide records of 8 bat fly species belonging to 4 genera, 2 families; of these, 3 species belong to the family Nycteribiidae (Basila roylii, B. burmensis, B. pundibunda) and 5 remaining ones belong the family Streblidae (Ascodipteron phyllorhinae, A. wenzeli, Brachytarsina amboiensis, B. cucullata, Maabella stomalata). These fly species parasitize 8 bat species belonging to 4 families: 5 species of Hipposideridae (Hipposideros alongensis, H. armiger, H. grandis, H. khoukhouayensis, H. pomona), 1 species of Miniopteridae (Miniopterus fuliginosus), 1 species of Rhinolophidae (Rhinolophus marshalli) and 1 species of Vespertilionidae (Hypsugo pulveratus). Basilia pundibunda was the most common bat fly species within the study area. The first data on ecological correlation between flies and bats from Vietnam were also recorded and given in this paper.   Citation: Nguyen Thanh Luong, Ta Huy Thinh, Vu Dinh Thong, 2018. Diversity and ecology of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae, Streblidae) from Cat Ba National Park. Tap chi Sinh hoc, 40(1): x-xx. DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v40n1.10746. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received 22 September 2017, accepted 2 December 2017

scholarly journals First report of the bat fly species Basilia italica in Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Áron Péter ◽  
Andrei Mihalca ◽  
Attila Sándor
Keyword(s):  
First Report ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Bat Fly

Bat flies are haematophagous ectoparasites, highly specialised to bats and are also considered to have vectorial potential for several pathogens like Bartonella spp. or Polychromophilus spp. In Romania, past studies mostly focused on the ectoparasitic fauna of cave-dwelling bats, listing the occurrence of 10 bat fly species in the country, with only scarce information on bat flies infesting crevice-roosting bat species. Here we report the occurrence of Basilia italica, a rare nycteribiid species infesting primarily forest-dwelling bats. This is the first country-record for Romania and also represents the easternmost occurrence of this species. Further studies are needed to evaluate the vectorial potential of B. italica.

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