scholarly journals Diversity, Transmission, and Cophylogeny of Ledanteviruses (Rhabdoviridae: Ledantevirus) and Nycteribiid Bat Flies Parasitizing Angolan Soft-Furred Fruit Bats in Bundibugyo District, Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Bennett ◽  
Adrian C. Paskey ◽  
Jens H. Kuhn ◽  
Kimberly A. Bishop-Lilly ◽  
Tony L. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Fruit Bats ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Diversity Transmission

Obligate hematophagous ectoparasitic flies of the superfamily Hippoboscoidea are distributed worldwide, but their role as vectors and reservoirs of viruses remains understudied. We examined hippoboscoid bat flies (family Nycteribiidae) parasitizing Angolan soft-furred fruit bats (Lissonycteris angolensis ruwenzorii) from Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Using metagenomic methods, we detected 21 variants of the rhabdovirid genus Ledantevirus, which contains medically important “bat-associated” viruses. These 21 viruses, representing at least two divergent viral lineages, infected 26 bat flies from 8 bats in a single roost. Cophylogenetic analyses of viruses and bat flies resulted in strong evidence of virus-host codivergence, indicating vertical transmission of bat fly ledanteviruses. Examination of oral swabs from bats revealed ledantevirus RNA in the saliva of 1 out of 11 bats, with no evidence of insect genetic material in the mouth of this bat. These data demonstrate that bat flies can harbor diverse ledanteviruses even in a single roost and that the predominant mode of transmission is likely vertical (among bat flies), but that bats can become infected and shed viruses orally. In conclusion, bat flies may serve as ectoparasitic reservoirs of “bat-associated” viruses that only transiently or sporadically infect bats.

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.

Evidence for Vertical Transmission of Babesia odocoilei (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T E Zembsch ◽  
G M Bron ◽  
S M Paskewitz
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Potential Importance ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Larval Infection

Abstract Limited evidence suggests that the cervid parasite, Babesia odocoilei, is transovarially transmitted from adult female Ixodes scapularis Say to offspring. The prevalence of B. odocoilei in unfed larval I. scapularis and whether vertical transmission is crucial to pathogen maintenance are currently unknown. To investigate these questions, 275 unfed larvae from two Wisconsin counties were tested for B. odocoilei genetic material. Sixteen of 29 pools were positive for the parasite. The maximum likelihood estimation for overall larval infection prevalence was 7.8% (95% confidence interval: 4.7–12). This vertically acquired infection appears to be sustained transstadially in nymphal ticks the following year; however, our relatively small sample and replicate size warrants additional evaluation. Our study revealed further evidence of vertical transmission, a low and consistent infection prevalence in larvae, and the potential importance of vertical transmission in B. odocoilei maintenance.

scholarly journals Possible Early Vertical Transmission of COVID-19 from an Infected Pregnant Female to Her Neonate: A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapas Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Abhinav Sharma ◽  
Pratima Kumari ◽  
Arti Maria ◽  
Rahul Choudhary
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Pregnant Female ◽  
Rare Entity ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Reported Data

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-19) has emerged as a public health emergency in recent times. The reported data on the mode of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are largely through contact, droplet, airborne and fomite transmission methods with vertical transmission being a rare entity. We hereby report a case of a probable vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-19 from an infected pregnant female to her neonate. The transmission has been confirmed by a positive RT-PCR at 16 h of life along with a positive IgG antibody test for SARS-CoV-19 in the baby and after excluding the possible environmental contamination of the sample. The baby was asymptomatic during the course of hospital stay and was discharged from the facility on Day 9 of life.

scholarly journals Evolution of Nipah Virus Infection: Past, Present, and Future Considerations

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Naomi Hauser ◽  
Alexis C. Gushiken ◽  
Shivakumar Narayanan ◽  
Shyam Kottilil ◽  
Joel V. Chua
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Fruit Bats ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic paramyxovirus of the Henipavirus genus first identified in Malaysia in 1998. Henipaviruses have bat reservoir hosts and have been isolated from fruit bats found across Oceania, Asia, and Africa. Bat-to-human transmission is thought to be the primary mode of human NiV infection, although multiple intermediate hosts are described. Human infections with NiV were originally described as a syndrome of fever and rapid neurological decline following contact with swine. More recent outbreaks describe a syndrome with prominent respiratory symptoms and human-to-human transmission. Nearly annual outbreaks have been described since 1998 with case fatality rates reaching greater than 90%. The ubiquitous nature of the reservoir host, increasing deforestation, multiple mode of transmission, high case fatality rate, and lack of effective therapy or vaccines make NiV’s pandemic potential increasingly significant. Here we review the epidemiology and microbiology of NiV as well as the therapeutic agents and vaccines in development.

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 Transposable element abundance correlates with mode of transmission in microsporidian parasites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalia Rammé Medeiros de Albuquerque ◽  
Dieter Ebert ◽  
Karen Luisa Haag
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Transposable Element ◽  
Genome Size ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Element Abundance ◽  
Population Bottlenecks ◽  
Parasitic Lifestyle ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Transposable Element Abundance

Abstract The extreme genome reduction and physiological simplicity of some microsporidia has been attributed to their intracellular, obligate parasitic lifestyle. Although not all microsporidian genomes are small (size range from about 2 to 50 MB), it is suggested that the size of their genomes has been streamlined by natural selection. We explore the hypothesis that vertical transmission in microsporidia produces population bottlenecks, and thus reduces the effectiveness of natural selection. Here we compare the transposable element (TE) content of 47 microsporidian genomes, and show that genome size is positively correlated with the amount of TEs, and that species that experience vertical transmission have larger genomes with higher proportion of TEs. Our findings are consistent with earlier studies inferring that nonadaptive processes play an important role in microsporidian evolution.

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.

New records of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae), with an updated checklist of the nycteribiids of Russia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4927 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-430
Author(s):  
MARIA V. ORLOVA ◽  
PAVEL B. KLIMOV ◽  
NINA S. MOSKVITINA ◽  
OLEG L. ORLOV ◽  
ALEXANDER V. ZHIGALIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
New Records ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
New Host ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Myotis Nattereri ◽  
First Time

We assembled a checklist by documenting and curating previously published data as well as previously unpublished records of bat flies from the Russian Federation. A total of 20 bat fly species are listed, belonging to 4 genera. Basilia mongolensis nudior Hůrka, 1972 and Basilia nattereri (Kolenati, 1857) are recorded from Russia for the first time. The following new host associations are reported: Basilia mongolensis nudior ex Myotis nattereri (Kuhl), Basilia nattereri ex Eptesicus nilssonii (Keyserling & Blasius), Basilia rybini Hůrka, 1969 ex Myotis dasycneme (Boie) and Eptesicus nilssonii, and Nycteribia quasiocellata Theodor, 1966 ex Vespertilio murinus Linnaeus. We provide data on nine major Russian regions for which nycteribiid records were previously lacking. 

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