Litomosoides sp. (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) Infection in Frugivorous Bats (Artibeus spp.): Pathological Features, Molecular Evidence, and Prevalence.

Bats can host pathogenic organisms such as viruses and fungi, but little is known about the pathogenicity of their parasites. Hemoparasites are frequently recorded in Neotropical bats, particularly Litomosoides (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae), but their pathogenic effect on bats is scarcely known. In this work, Litomosoides microfilariae were identified in four (8%) out of 51 sampled frugivorous bats belonging to three different species: Artibeus aztecus, Artibeus jamaicensis, and Artibeus lituratus, which are located in Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico. Two infected animals showed weakness, tachypnoea, and ecchymosis on their wings. In these animals, histopathology revealed microfilariae in the blood vessels of the lung, liver, and spleen. Both animals presented exudative pneumonia with congestion and concomitant edema, in addition to moderate arterial hypertrophy. Parasitemia was quantified in blood samples of the infected animals (>3000 parasites/mL). Phylogenetic analysis placed the obtained sequence inside the Litomosoides genus, reaching over 98% identity to the related species. Due to the relevance of bats in ecosystems, any new record of their parasite repertoire offers noteworthy insights into our understanding of the ecology and impact of new parasite species in bats.

Survey of Ebola Viruses in Frugivorous and Insectivorous Bats in Guinea, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2015-2017.

To clarify the role of bats in the ecology of Ebola viruses, we assessed the prevalence of Ebola virus antibodies in a large-scale sample of bats collected during 2015-2017 from countries in Africa that have had previous Ebola outbreaks (Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo) or are at high risk for outbreaks (Cameroon). We analyzed 4,022 blood samples of bats from >12 frugivorous and 27 insectivorous species; 2-37 (0.05%-0.92%) bats were seropositive for Zaire and 0-30 (0%-0.75%) bats for Sudan Ebola viruses. We observed Ebola virus antibodies in 1 insectivorous bat genus and 6 frugivorous bat species. Certain bat species widespread across Africa had serologic evidence of Zaire and Sudan Ebola viruses. No viral RNA was detected in the subset of samples tested (n = 665). Ongoing surveillance of bats and other potential animal reservoirs are required to predict and prepare for future outbreaks.

Bacterial resistance in bats from the Phyllostomidae family and its relationship with unique health / Resistência bacteriana em morcegos da família Phyllostomidae e sua relação com a saúde única

The Phyllostomidae family is important among the bats found in Brazil, with several species and diverse eating habits, and is the only one to have frugivorous representatives. These bats can be found in urban and in wild life environments in search for the best reproductive and feeding conditions. The versatility of environments can be associated with the incidence and/or distribution of some diseases through pathogenic agents. The present paper has the purpose to identify the oral and perianal microbiota and to detect the bacterial resistance of frugivorous bats captured near communities inhabited by humans in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná. A total of 68 bats were captured, belonging to four species of the Phyllostomidae family, namely Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus planirostris, Carollia perspicillata and Sturnira lillium, originated from forest fragments in the micro region of Umuarama, state of Paraná. A total of 64 isolates from oral bacteria and 39 from perianal region were submitted to identification. They were later submitted to a susceptibility test to 22 human and veterinary antimicrobials. The most prevalent bacteria were Escherichia coli 33.3% in the oral region, and 35.90% in the perianal region, Enterobacter aerogenes 12.7% and 5.13%, Enterobacter agglomerans 7.9% and 10.25%, and Serratia liquefaciens 9.5% and 5.13% in the oral and perianal region respectively. All bat species studied had resistant strains, with a few of them presenting multi-resistance to antimicrobials. The species with the highest multi-resistance index to antimicrobials was Carollia perspicillata, with three strains of the oral region resistant to 15 antimicrobials; it also presented two strains in the perianal region, which were resistant to 13 and 10 antimicrobials respectively. Based on the results found, it is possible to conclude that the oral and perianal microbiota of bats is composed of several enterobacterial species resistant to one or several antimicrobials used in human and veterinarian medicine. This is an issue and a future warning for unique health, since high percentages of resistance were found against antimicrobials broadly used, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin and amoxicillin+clavulonate.(AU)

A família Phyllostomidae se destaca entre as famílias de morcegos encontrados no Brasil, com diversificadas espécies e hábitos alimentares, sendo a única a apresentar representantes frugívoros, podendo ser encontrada tanto em meio urbano, como de vida livre, em busca de melhores condições reprodutivas e alimentares. Essa versatilidade de ambientes pode estar associada à incidência e/ou distribuição de determinadas doenças por agentes patogênicos. O presente trabalho objetivou identificar a microbiota oral e perianal e detectar a resistência bacteriana em morcegos frugívoros capturados próximos às comunidades habitadas pelo homem na região noroeste do estado do Paraná. Foram capturados 68 morcegos, de quatro espécies da família Phyllostomidae, são eles Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus planirostris, Carollia perspicillata e Sturnira lillium, oriundos de fragmentos de Mata da microrregião de Umuarama, estado do Paraná. Um total de 64 isolados de bactérias da região oral e 39 da região perianal foram submetidos, identificação e posteriormente teste de susceptibilidade a 22 antimicrobianos de uso humano e veterinário. As bactérias mais prevalentes foram Escherichia coli 33,3% na região da boca e 35,90% na região perianal, Enterobacter aerogenes 12,7% e 5,13%, Enterobacter agglomerans 7,9% e 10,25% e Serratia liquefaciens 9,5% e 5,13% na região da boca e perianal, respectivamente. Todas as espécies de morcegos estudadas apresentaram cepas que foram resistentes, e algumas multirresistência aos antimicrobianos. A espécie que apresentou maior índice de multirresistência aos antimicrobianos foi Carollia perspicillata, com três cepas na região oral resistente a 15 antimicrobianos, e duas na perianal, com resistência a 13 e 10 antimicrobianos respectivamente. Baseados nos resultados encontrados, é possível concluir que a microbiota oral e perianal de morcegos, é composta por diversas espécies de enterobactérias, resistentes a um, ou vários antimicrobianos utilizados na medicina humana e veterinária, tornando-se um problema, e um alerta futuro para a saúde única, uma vez que foram encontrados elevados percentuais de resistência contra antimicrobianos utilizados em larga escala tais como ampicilina, amoxicilina e amoxicilina+clavulonato.(AU)

The close genetic relationship of lineage D Betacoronavirus from Nigerian and Kenyan straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) is consistent with the existence of a single epidemiological unit across sub-Saharan Africa.

Straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), which have been identified as natural hosts for several zoonotic pathogens, such as lyssaviruses, henipaviruses, and ebolavirus, are associated with human settlements in Nigeria where they are commonly consumed as a delicacy. However, information on the viruses harbored by these bats is scarce. In this study, coronavirus sequences were detected using a nested RT-PCR targeting 440 bp of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in six of 79 fecal samples collected from an urban colony of E. helvum in Ibadan, Nigeria. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all six sequences were monophyletic and clustered in lineage D of Betacoronavirus. The extension of two fragments allowed us to classify our sequences within the RdRp Group Unit defined for Kenyan Betacoronavirus from the same host species. These findings are consistent with the previous suggestion on the existence of a single epidemiological unit of E. helvum across sub-Saharan Africa. This theory, which is supported by the genetic structure of continental E. helvum, could facilitate viral mixing between different colonies across the continent.

Informações preliminares sobre a ocorrência do vírus rábico em filostomídeos (Chiroptera, Mammalia) da região de Porto Rico, Paraná / Informaciones preliminares sobre la ocurrencia del virus rábico en filostomídeos (Chiroptera, Mammalia) en la región de Porto Rico – Paraná / Preliminary information on the occurance of rabies virus on phyllostomideos (Chiroptera, Mammalia) on the region of Porto Rico, state of Paraná

No Paraná poucos estudos foram realizados sobre a presença do vírus rábico em morcegos, sendo a maioriadas pesquisas feitas nos grandes centros urbanos e em parques próximos às cidades. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo detectar a presença do vírus rábico em filostomídeos não hematófagos, coletados em um fragmento florestal na região de Porto Rico, Paraná. O estudo foi realizado no mês de março de 2006 e foram coletados exemplares de Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus lituratus, A. jamaicensis e Sturnira lilium. Amostras de encéfalo dos morcegos foram extraídas e encaminhadas para análise no Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná (LACEN/ PR) onde foram empregadas as técnicas de imunoflorescência direta e prova biológica em camundongos. Das 16 amostras encaminhadas, todas apresentaram resultados negativos, indicando, assim, sanidade dos morcegos amostrados para o vírus rábico na região de Porto Rico, o que sugere a necessidade de novos estudos, a fim de conferir um panorama maior e mais preciso sobre a contaminação de quirópteros por tal enfermidade.

A few studies have been conducted in the state of Paraná respect to rabies virus in bats – most of the researches were conducted in large cities and in parks next to the cities. This study has the purpose of identifying the occurrence of rabies virus in non-hematophagous phyllostomideos collected in a forest segment in the region of Porto Rico, Paraná. It was carried out in March, 2006 and samples of Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus lituratus, A. jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium were collected. Their encephalus were removed and analyzed at the Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná (LACEN/ PR), where direct immunofluorescense and biological proof in mice were conducted. All 16 samples presented negative results,thus indicating sanity for the bats sampled for rabic virus in the region of Porto Rico, what suggests the need for new studies in order to establish a broader and more precise overview with respect to the contamination of chiroptera by such disease.

En Paraná pocos estudios fueron realizados sobre la presencia del virus rábico en murciélagos, siendo la mayoríade las investigaciones hechas en los grandes centros urbanos y en parques próximos a las ciudades. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo detectar la presencia del virus rábico en filostomídeos no hematófagos, colectados en un fragmento forestalen la región de Porto Rico - Paraná. El estudio fue realizado en el mes de marzo de 2006 y fueron colectados ejemplares de Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus lituratus, A. jamaicensis y Sturnira lilium. Muestras de encéfalos fueron extraídas y encaminadas para análisis en el Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública del Paraná (LACEN/ PR), donde fueron utilizadas las técnicas de inmunoflorescencia directa y prueba biológica en ratas. De las 16 muestras encaminadas, todas presentaron resultados negativos, indicando, así, la sanidad de los murciélagos pesquisados para el virus rábico en la región de Porto Rico, lo que sugiere la necesidad de nuevos estudios, a fin de conferir un panorama mayor y más preciso sobre la contaminación de quirópteros por tal enfermedad.

Food niche overlap among neotropical frugivorous bats in Costa Rica

Food habits of 15 species of frugivorous bats were studied at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Eight hundred and fifty-four (854) fecal samples and 169 samples from fruit parts and seeds discarded by bats beneath feeding roosts were analyzed. During eight months of study, 47 fruit species consumed by bats were identified. Five plant genera (Cecropia, Ficus, Piper Solanum, and Vismia) constituted 85% of all plants found in fecal samples. Feeding niche breadth differed significantly among the six most common species of frugivorous bats (Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia sowelli, C. castanea, C. perspicillata, Dermanura sp., and Glossophaga commissarisi). All species, except for Dermanura sp., showed a diet dominated by one or two plant species. This suggests a pattern of resource partitioning at a generic level, in which Carollia consumed mainly Piper, Artibeus consumed Ficus and Cecropia, and Glossophaga consumed Vismia. Cluster analysis revealed higher values of food niche overlap in congeneric species than among species of different genera. Results show that if food is a limiting factor, mechanisms other than trophic selection must reduce interspecific interference or competition for food in this frugivorous bat guild.