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Epauletted fruit bats display exceptionally high infections with a Hepatocystis species complex in South Sudan
- Source :
- Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Hepatocystis parasites are closely related to mammalian Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria. Despite the close phylogenetic relationship, Hepatocystis parasites lack the intermittent erythrocytic replication cycles, the signature and exclusive cause of malaria-related morbidity and mortality. Hepatocystis population expansion in the mammalian host is thought to be restricted to the pre-erythrocytic liver phase. Complete differentiation of first generation blood stages into sexual stages for subsequent vector transmission indicates alternative parasite/host co-evolution. In this study, we identified a region of exceptionally high prevalence of Hepatocystis infections in Old World fruit bats in South Sudan. Investigations over the course of five consecutive surveys revealed an average of 93 percent prevalence in four genera of African epauletted fruit bats. We observed a clear seasonal pattern and tolerance of high parasite loads in these bats. Phylogenetic analyses revealed several cryptic Hepatocystis parasite species and, in contrast to mammalian Plasmodium parasites, neither host specificity nor strong geographical patterns were evident. Together, our study provides evidence for Pan-African distribution and local high endemicity of a Hepatocystis species complex in Pteropodidae.
- Subjects :
- Male
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Species complex
Old World
Science
Population
Zoology
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Plasmodium
Article
Host Specificity
Pteropodidae
03 medical and health sciences
Chiroptera
Surveys and Questionnaires
Prevalence
Animals
Parasite hosting
education
Protozoan Infections, Animal
South Sudan
Phylogeny
education.field_of_study
Multidisciplinary
biology
Host (biology)
Ecology
Haemosporida
Hepatocystis
biology.organism_classification
030104 developmental biology
Medicine
Female
Seasons
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2017)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....eff6a42045eef4ad2d6aa91520527949