Morphological and molecular analysis of Ornithodoros hasei and Ornithodoros sp. cf. O. mimon (Acari: Argasidae) from northeastern Argentina

In this study two species of soft ticks belonging to the genus Ornithodoros were recorded in three areas in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. Four larvae were identified as Ornithodoros hasei (Schulze, 1935) on Molossus molossus (Molossidae) in Paraje Tres Cerros (Department of San Martín), while 56 larvae were identified as Ornithodoros sp. cf. O. mimon Kohls, Clifford & Jones, 1969 on Eptesicus furinalis and Myotis levis (Vespertilionidae) in Paraje Galarza (Department of Santo Tomé) and Colonia Carlos Pellegrini (Department of San Martín). These last two locations are found within the Esteros del Iberá eco-region. The known distribution range of O. hasei and O. cf. O. mimon is expanded to include the province of Corrientes. Two new ectoparasite-host associations were recorded for Argentina between O. hasei on M. molossus and O. cf. O. mimon on M. levis. The morphological differences together with the results of the phylogenetic analysis show that O. hasei presents genetic similarity with specimens from Brazil, and in Argentina, with ticks from Santa Fe. Instead, Ornithodoros sp. cf. O. mimon recorded in Corrientes and Uruguay belong to a different taxon than the O. mimon recorded in Brazil and Santa Fe, Argentina. Based on this, O. mimon should be considered a complex of species in which the specimens from Corrientes are provisionally considered as Ornithodoros sp. cf. O. mimon until their taxonomic status can be determined.

Registro de la pulga Hectopsylla pulex (Haller, 1880) (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) en el murciélago mastín común Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) en el departamento del Cauca, Colombia

La pulga Hectopsylla pulex es un sifonáptero cuyas hembras son parásitos estrictos de murciélagos. En Colombia, H. pulex ha sido documentada en cinco departamentos de la región Andina, sin embargo, aun persisten muchos vacíos de información. En esta investigación se presenta el primer registro de H. pulex para la zona Andina del departamento del Cauca a partir de observaciones recientes realizadas en zonas urbanas. La pulga fue observada parasitando un murciélago mastín común, Molossus molossus, confirmado previamente como uno de sus hospederos. Finalmente, se discute si el tipo de refugio habitado por esta y otras especies de murciélagos contribuye a la dispersión de H. pulex, aunque, cabe anotar, se requieren de datos adicionales.

Involvement of non-LTR retrotransposons in the cancer incidence and lifespan of mammals

The natural occurrence of closely related species that show drastic differences in lifespan and cancer incidence raised the interest in finding the particular adaptations and genomic characteristics underlying the evolution of long lifespans. Studies on transposable elements (TEs) have more and more linked them to ageing and cancer development. In this study, we compared the TE content and dynamics in the genomes of four Rodent and six Chiroptera species that show very different lifespans and cancer susceptibility including the long-lived and refractory to cancer naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber), the long-lived fruit bats (Pteropus vampyrus, Rousettus aegypticaus) and the short-lived velvety free-tailed bat (Molossus molossus). By analysing the patterns of recent TE accumulation (TEs that are potentially currently active) in high-quality genome assemblies, we found that the shared genomic characteristics between long-lived species that are refractory to cancer, is the strong suppression, or negative selection against the accumulation, of non-LTR retrotransposons. All the short-lived species did show a recent accumulation of these TEs. Non-LTR retrotransposons have been often found to take part in the immune response of the host against viral infections, but their dysregulation can lead to phenomena of "sterile inflammation" and "inflammageing". Therefore, we hypothesise that the uncontrolled non-LTR retrotransposon activity is an important factor explaining the evolution of shorter lifespans in both Rodents and Chiroptera species and potentially in all mammals. Finally, these results suggest that non-LTR retrotransposons can be agents promoting cancer and ageing in mammals thus they may be targets of future oncological therapies.

High Diversity of Leptospira Species Infecting Bats Captured in the Urabá Region (Antioquia-Colombia)

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. This zoonotic disease affects humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Colombia is considered an endemic country for leptospirosis; Antioquia is the second department in Colombia, with the highest number of reported leptospirosis cases. Currently, many studies report bats as reservoirs of Leptospira spp. but the prevalence in these mammals is unknown. The goal of this study was to better understand the role of bats as reservoir hosts of Leptospira species and to evaluate the genetic diversity of circulating Leptospira species in Antioquia-Colombia. We captured 206 bats in the municipalities of Chigorodó (43 bats), Carepa (43 bats), Apartadó (39 bats), Turbo (40 bats), and Necoclí (41 bats) in the Urabá region (Antioquia-Colombia). Twenty bats tested positive for Leptospira spp. infection (20/206—9.70%) and the species of infected bats were Carollia perspicillata, Dermanura rava, Glossophaga soricina, Molossus molossus, Artibeus planirostris, and Uroderma convexum. These species have different feeding strategies such as frugivorous, insectivores, and nectarivores. The infecting Leptospira species identified were Leptospira borgpetersenii (3/20–15%), Leptospira alexanderi (2/20–10%), Leptospira noguchii (6/20–30%), Leptospira interrogans (3/20–15%), and Leptospira kirschneri (6/20–30%). Our results showed the importance of bats in the epidemiology, ecology, and evolution of Leptospira in this host-pathogen association. This is the first step in deciphering the role played by bats in the epidemiology of human leptospirosis in the endemic region of Urabá (Antioquia-Colombia).

High Diversity of Leptospira Species Infecting Bats Captured in the Uraba Region (Antioquia-Colombia)

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. This zoonotic disease affects humans, domestic, or wild animals. Colombia is considered an endemic country for leptospirosis; and Antioquia is the second department in Colombia with the highest number of reported leptospirosis cases. Currently, many studies report bats as reservoirs of Leptospira spp. but its prevalence in these mammals is unknown. In the present study we aimed to better understand the role of bats as reservoir hosts of Leptospira species and to evaluate the genetic diversity of circulating Leptospira species in Antioquia-Colombia. We captured 206 bats in the municipalities of Chigorodó (43 bats), Carepa (43 bats), Apartadó (39 bats), Turbo (40 bats), and Necoclí (41 bats) in the Urabá region (Antioquia-Colombia). Twenty bats were positive for Leptospira spp. infection (20/206 - 9,70%) and the species of infected bats were Carollia perspicillata, Dermatura rava, Glossophaga soricina, Molossus molossus, Artibeus planirostris, and Uroderma convexum. These species have different feeding strategies such as frugivorous, insectivores, and nectarivores. The infecting Leptospira species identified were Leptospira borgpetersenii (3/20 – 15%), Leptospira alexanderi (2/20 – 10%), Leptospira noguchii (6/20 – 30%), Leptospira interrogans (3/2 – 15%), and Leptospira kirschneri (6/20 – 30%). The results of this research show the importance of bats in the epidemiology, ecology and evolution of Leptospira in this host-pathogen association. This is the first step in deciphering the role played by bats in the epidemiology of human leptospirosis in the endemic region of Uraba (Antioquia-Colombia).

Raiva em morcegos não hematófagos em São José do Egito, semiárido Pernambucano

Diversas espécies de mamíferos no Brasil já foram diagnosticadas com o vírus da raiva dentre animais de companhia, de criação e silvestres. Entre os quirópteros destaca-se o hematófago Desmodus rotundus, entretanto, o registro de positivos não se restringe a essa guilda alimentar. Diante disso, esse trabalho tem como objetivo descrever os casos positivos de morcegos não hematófagos para raiva no município de São José do Egito, localizado no semiárido Pernambucano. Foi realizada uma análise de registros com dados de amostras enviadas para análise rábica pela vigilância sanitária do Município e pelo trabalho de monitoramento dos quirópteros realizado no município entre outubro/2010 e julho/2012. Foram encontrados em quatro anos, 11 espécimes de três espécies (Molossus molossus, Myotis lavali e Glossophaga soricina), positivas para raiva na área urbana de São José do Egito com uma maior frequência para M. molossus. Em um dos casos ocorreu à agressão a um munícipe. Os espécimes foram encontrados em condições atípicas mantendo atividade diurna, caídos no chão ainda com vida ou mortos na rua e em seus abrigos. Os registros mostram que, apesar de não haver casos em cães e gatos, a raiva circula na área urbana do município em situação próxima aos munícipes e que o monitoramento é necessário para evitar contágio a humanos e animais domésticos.

Records of chromatic disorder in Molossus molossus and Sturnira bakeri (Chiroptera) from western Ecuador

Herein we report cases of leucism in Molossus molossus and Sturnira bakeri from three locations of lowlands of western Ecuador, which include three gravid females, five juvenile, four subadult, and six adults. The M. molossus specimens showed white spots on several parts in the soft part of body (ears, tragus, propatagium, uropatagium), and fur (throat, abdomen), while individual of S. bakeri presented a whitish-yellowish patch on its dorsal region, very contrast in yellow-shoulder bats. Although South America has a significant information gap about chromatic disorders in bats, been necessary to continue reporting cases of chromatic disorders to try to determine their causes.

DNA barcoding of bats (Chiroptera) from the Colombian northern region

Bats are mammals of great ecological and medical importance, which have associations with different pathogenic microorganisms. DNA barcoding is a tool that can expedite species identification using short DNA sequences. In this study, we assess the DNA barcoding methodology in bats from the Colombian Northern region, specifically in the Córdoba department. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences of nine bat species were typified, and their comparison with other Neotropic samples revealed that this marker is suitable for individual species identification, with ranges of intra-species variation from 0.1 to 0.9%. Bat species clusters are well supported and differentiated, showing average genetic distances ranging from 3% between Artibeus lituratus and Artibeus planirostris, up to 27% between Carollia castanea and Molossus molossus. C. castanea and Glossophaga soricina show geographical structuring in the Neotropic. The findings reported in this study confirm DNA barcoding usefulness for fast species identification of bats in the region.