Trypanosomes in Eastern and Central European bats

Hana Berkova,Jana Sedláčková,Veronika Seidlová,Tomáš Heger,Jiří Pikula,Petr Linhart,Tomasz Kokurewicz,Heliana Dundarova,Aneta Kubickova,Jan Votypka,Vladimír Piaček,Hana Banďouchová,Grzegorz Apoznanski,Vladimír Hanzal,Monika Němcová,Jan Zukal

doi:10.2754/avb202089010069

Abstract

Bats are presumed primary hosts of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum, including the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. As such, research on bat trypanosomes has been focused on South America, where Chagas disease is a serious issue. While the majority of European studies have been performed in the United Kingdom, there is virtually no data available for Eastern and Central parts of Europe. To address this, the present study aims to identify and assess the prevalence and pathogenicity of trypanosomes in bats sampled in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Poland. Blood collected from 381 adult bats of eight species was tested for presence of trypanosomes using nested polymerase chain reactions. To assess possible impacts of trypanosome parasites on the health status of their hosts, haematological and biochemical analyses were performed for 56 greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) emerging from hibernacula and 36 females of the same species from summer colonies. The overall prevalence of the two trypanosome species detected (T. dionisii and T. vespertilionis) was 27%, with a significantly higher prevalence in the Czech Republic compared to the other countries studied. Significant differences in bat trypanosome prevalence in different European countries appear to be connected with presence or absence of possible vectors in summer roosts. No impact of trypanosomes on haematology and blood chemistry parameters was detected in Trypanosoma-positive greater mouse-eared bats. Though T. dionisii infection in bats appears asymptomatic, long-term health consequences still need to be studied in greater detail.

Highlights

Bats host several trypanosome species of the subgenus Schizotrypanum, including the important human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease, a serious issue in Latin America
Our results indicate a high prevalence rate for trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Poland, especially as regards T. dionisii, which was dominant in all the bat species tested
A second species, T. vespertilionis, was only confirmed in noctule bats, with prevalence significantly lower than that for T. dionisii. Both T. dionisii and T. vespertilionis were confirmed in noctules from the same colony, though no case of co-infection was recorded

Summary

Introduction

Bats host several trypanosome species of the subgenus Schizotrypanum, including the important human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease, a serious issue in Latin America. In Europe, research concerning bat trypanosomes was mainly performed in the UK in the early part of the twentieth century (Petrie 1905; Coles 1914) and the 1970s and 80s (Baker et al 1972; Gardner and Molyneux 1988). These classic morphological studies were later followed by molecular research (Lord 2010; Hamilton et al 2012). The aim of the present study, is a) to improve our knowledge of the prevalence of bat trypanosomes in European countries, and b) to analyse haematology and blood chemistry parameters in order to assess the impact of trypanosomes on hibernating and lactating greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis)

Methods

Results

Conclusion