Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted (2010–2013) to determine the diversity of hemoprotozoa among bats of Bangladesh. Microscopic examination of blood smears (N=533; Pteropus medius (377), Rousettus leschenaultii (111), Megaderma lyra (45)) revealed 9% of bats (95% confidence interval CI: 7–12%) were positive for hemoprotozoa. The overall prevalence of hemoparasites among P. medius was 5% (n=20, 95% CI: 3–8%); where Babesia sp. was 3% (n=12, 95% CI: 2–5%) and Hepatocytis sp. was 2% (n=8, 95% CI: 1–4%). Moreover, 13% of R. leschenaultii were positive (n=14, 95% CI: 7–20%) where prevalence of Babesia sp. was 10% (n=11, 95% CI: 5–17%) and prevalence of Hepatocystis sp. was 3% (n=3, 95% CI: 1–8%). Twenty-nine percent (n=13, 95% CI: 16–44%) of M. lyra harbored hemoparasites, among which 20% (n=9, 95% CI: 10–35%) were Babesia sp. and 9% (n=4, 95% CI: 2–21%) were Hepatocystis sp. The study indicates bats remain important hosts for various zoonotic parasites and suggests further research.
Highlights
Bats, classified under the order Chiroptera, have long been postulated to play an important role in arthropod suppression, seed dispersal, and pollination
The prevalence of Babesia sp. was higher in adults (4%) while Hepatocystis sp. prevalence was higher in neonates (6%)
Both Babesia sp. (4%) and Hepatocystis sp. (3%) prevalence were higher in peri-urban area compared to rural settings (Table 1)
Summary
Bats, classified under the order Chiroptera, have long been postulated to play an important role in arthropod suppression, seed dispersal, and pollination. In Bangladesh, 31 bat species are found, three of which are fruit-eating. Hepatocystis infects a wide range of hosts including primates, bats, ungulates, and rodents, in addition to Plasmodium (Manwell & Kuntz 1966). The prevalence of hemosporidian parasites among fruit and insectivorous bats has been detected previously to be 40% (Schaer et al 2013). Was identified from a species of flying fox, P. hypomelanus (Olival et al 2007), displaying an unusually high diversity and is prevalent in Epauletted Fruit Bats Epomophorus wahlbergi (Schaer et al 2013) Hepatocystis sp. was identified from a species of flying fox, P. hypomelanus (Olival et al 2007), displaying an unusually high diversity and is prevalent in Epauletted Fruit Bats Epomophorus wahlbergi (Schaer et al 2013)
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