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Understanding the role of bats as fungal vectors in the environment.

Authors :
Liu XF
Karunarathna SC
Tibpromma S
Chethana KWT
Hyde KD
Elgorban AM
Suwannarach N
Kumla J
Mortimer PE
Hughes AC
Source :
IMA fungus [IMA Fungus] 2024 Sep 04; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 28. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 04.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Bats (Chiroptera), the second largest group of mammals, are known for their unique immune system and their ability to act as vectors for various zoonoses. Bats also act as important carriers of fungi, which include plant, animal, and human pathogens. Their roosting areas, foraging behaviors, and even migration routes make bats ideal vectors for fungi. We isolated 75 culturable fungal species from bats in Yunnan Province, China, with 36 species representing known pathogens of plants, animals, and humans, while 39 species are non-pathogenic fungi. Among these species, 77% (58 species) belonged to Ascomycota, 9% (seven species) belonged to Basidiomycota, and 13% (10 species) belonged to Mucoromycota. Even though several taxonomic studies on fungi associated with bats have been published, studies exploring the role of bats as fungal vectors are lacking. This study discusses the fungi host-specific traits and pathogenicity and the impact and ecological significance of bats as fungal vectors.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2210-6340
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
IMA fungus
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39232794
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-024-00161-w