Scholarlink

Purpose <p>Bats constitute 20% of all mammal species, playing a vital role in ecosystem health as pollinators, seed dispersers, and regulators of insect populations. However, these animals can also be reservoirs for infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and enteroparasites such as <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., <i>Giardia duodenalis</i>, and <i>Balantioides coli</i>, raising questions about their role in the epidemiology of these agents. Our study analyses bat faecal samples from Portugal with the aim of assessing the prevalence, distribution and diversity of enteroparasitic protozoa.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a retrospective study that included 380 bat faecal samples collected between 2014 and 2018 in northern and central Portugal.</p> Results <p>In our study, a <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. prevalence of 3.2% was identified, with genetic diversity observed and strains grouped with known bat genotypes. <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> was detected in 0.5% of the samples, exhibiting distinct genetic characteristics that may suggest a potential new assembly group encompassing bats and rodents. Finally, <i>B. coli</i> was detected in 0.26% of samples, representing the first observation of this ciliate in bats, with the identified genetic variant belonging to genotype B.</p> Conclusion <p>Our results provide valuable molecular epidemiological insights that underscore the importance of bats in the epidemiology of these enteroparasites. Furthermore, this is the first report of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>G. duodenalis</i> in bat faeces samples from Portugal, and the first study worldwide to show that bats can shed <i>B. coli</i> in their faeces.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Molecular Survey of Protist Enteroparasites in Bats (Order Chiroptera) from Portugal

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月24日

查看全文
  • Pedro López-López,
  • Andreia V. S. Cruz,
  • Sérgio Santos-Silva,
  • Antonio Rivero-Juárez,
  • Hugo Rebelo,
  • João R. Mesquita

摘要

Purpose

Bats constitute 20% of all mammal species, playing a vital role in ecosystem health as pollinators, seed dispersers, and regulators of insect populations. However, these animals can also be reservoirs for infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and enteroparasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Balantioides coli, raising questions about their role in the epidemiology of these agents. Our study analyses bat faecal samples from Portugal with the aim of assessing the prevalence, distribution and diversity of enteroparasitic protozoa.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study that included 380 bat faecal samples collected between 2014 and 2018 in northern and central Portugal.

Results

In our study, a Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence of 3.2% was identified, with genetic diversity observed and strains grouped with known bat genotypes. Giardia duodenalis was detected in 0.5% of the samples, exhibiting distinct genetic characteristics that may suggest a potential new assembly group encompassing bats and rodents. Finally, B. coli was detected in 0.26% of samples, representing the first observation of this ciliate in bats, with the identified genetic variant belonging to genotype B.

Conclusion

Our results provide valuable molecular epidemiological insights that underscore the importance of bats in the epidemiology of these enteroparasites. Furthermore, this is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in bat faeces samples from Portugal, and the first study worldwide to show that bats can shed B. coli in their faeces.