Molecular Detection ofBartonellaSpecies in Blood-Feeding Bat Flies from Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 258-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra E. Moskaluk ◽  
Matthew J. Stuckey ◽  
David A. Jaffe ◽  
Rickie W. Kasten ◽  
Alvaro Aguilar-Setién ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Bat Flies

scholarly journals Can Bats Serve as Reservoirs for Arboviruses?

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna C. Fagre ◽  
Rebekah C. Kading
Keyword(s):  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Bed Bugs ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Additional Mode ◽  
Free Ranging

Bats are known to harbor and transmit many emerging and re-emerging viruses, many of which are extremely pathogenic in humans but do not cause overt pathology in their bat reservoir hosts: henipaviruses (Nipah and Hendra), filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg), and coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV). Direct transmission cycles are often implicated in these outbreaks, with virus shed in bat feces, urine, and saliva. An additional mode of virus transmission between bats and humans requiring further exploration is the spread of disease via arthropod vectors. Despite the shared ecological niches that bats fill with many hematophagous arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges, etc.) known to play a role in the transmission of medically important arboviruses, knowledge surrounding the potential for bats to act as reservoirs for arboviruses is limited. To this end, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken examining the current understanding and potential for bats to act as reservoirs for viruses transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Serosurveillance and viral isolation from either free-ranging or captive bats are described in relation to four arboviral groups (Bunyavirales, Flaviviridae, Reoviridae, Togaviridae). Further, ecological associations between bats and hematophagous viral vectors are characterized (e.g. bat bloodmeals in mosquitoes, ingestion of mosquitoes by bats, etc). Lastly, knowledge gaps related to hematophagous ectoparasites (bat bugs and bed bugs (Cimicidae) and bat flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae)), in addition to future directions for characterization of bat-vector-virus relationships are described.

scholarly journals Review of the Bat Flies of Honduras, Central America (Diptera: Streblidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl W. Dick
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
New Records ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Host Associations

Streblid bat flies are obligate and host-specific blood-feeding ectoparasites of bats. While the bat flies of some American countries are well studied (e.g., Panama, Venezuela), little is known about Honduran Streblidae. Accumulation of substantial numbers of specimens, from several different collections, has enabled a relatively thorough treatment of the fauna. This study is based on 2,236 specimens representing 17 genera and 43 species of Streblidae. Of those presently reported, 11 genera and 32 species are new records for Honduras, increasing the number of known genera and species by 65% and 74%, respectively. Collection and host data are listed for all known Honduran streblid bat fly species. Comments regarding host associations and specificity, geographic distribution, and taxonomic problems are given in the species accounts.

scholarly journals Evolution, Multiple Acquisition, and Localization of Endosymbionts in Bat Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 2952-2961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solon F. Morse ◽  
Sarah E. Bush ◽  
Bruce D. Patterson ◽  
Carl W. Dick ◽  
Matthew E. Gruwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Clade C ◽  
Taxonomic Range ◽  
Bat Fly ◽  
Microbial Dna

ABSTRACTBat flies are a diverse clade of obligate ectoparasites on bats. Like most blood-feeding insects, they harbor endosymbiotic prokaryotes, but the origins and nature of these symbioses are still poorly understood. To expand the knowledge of bacterial associates in bat flies, the diversity and evolution of the dominant endosymbionts in six of eight nominal subfamilies of bat flies (Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) were studied. Furthermore, the localization of endosymbionts and their transmission across developmental stages within the family Streblidae were explored. The results show diverse microbial associates in bat flies, with at least four ancestral invasions of distantly related microbial lineages throughout bat fly evolution. Phylogenetic relationships support the presence of at least two novel symbiont lineages (here clades B and D), and extend the geographic and taxonomic range of a previously documented lineage (“CandidatusAschnera chinzeii”; here clade A). Although these lineages show reciprocally monophyletic clusters with several bat fly host clades, their phylogenetic relationships generally do not reflect current bat fly taxonomy or phylogeny. However, within some endosymbiont clades, congruent patterns of symbiont-host divergence are apparent. Other sequences identified in this study fall into the widely distributed, highly invasive, insect-associatedArsenophonuslineage and may be the result of symbiont replacements and/or transient infections (here clade C). Vertical transmission of endosymbionts of clades B and D is supported by fluorescent signal (fluorescentin situhybridization [FISH]) and microbial DNA detection across developmental stages. The fluorescent bacterial signal is consistently localized within structures resembling bacteriomes, although their anatomical position differs by host fly clade. In summary, the results suggest an obligate host-endosymbiont relationship for three of the four known symbiont clades associated with bat flies (clades A, B, and D).

Leg structure explains host site preference in bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) parasitizing neotropical bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 145 (11) ◽  
pp. 1475-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hiller ◽  
Benjamin Honner ◽  
Rachel A. Page ◽  
Marco Tschapka
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Type ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Site Preference ◽  
Bat Flies ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
Neotropical Bats ◽  
Host Habitat ◽  
History Of ◽  
Morphological Differences

AbstractBat flies (Streblidae) are diverse, obligate blood-feeding insects and probably the most conspicuous ectoparasites of bats. They show preferences for specific body regions on their host bat, which are reflected in behavioural characteristics. In this study, we corroborate the categorization of bat flies into three ecomorphological groups, focusing only on differences in hind leg morphology. As no detailed phylogeny of bat flies is available, it remains uncertain whether these morphological differences reflect the evolutionary history of bat flies or show convergent adaptations for the host habitat type. We show that the division of the host bat into three distinct habitats contributes to the avoidance of interspecific competition of bat fly species. Finally, we found evidence for density-dependent competition between species belonging to the same ecomorphological group.

Hemolysis of erythrocytes by the hemolytic system from the blood-feeding stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 690-691
Author(s):  
H. J. Kirch ◽  
G. Spates ◽  
R. Droleskey ◽  
W.J. Kloft ◽  
J.R. DeLoach
Keyword(s):  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Stomoxys Calcitrans ◽  
Stable Fly ◽  
Digestive Physiology ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Erythrocyte Lysis ◽  
Mammalian Blood ◽  
Bovine Erythrocytes ◽  
Potential Tool

Blood feeding insects have to rely on the protein content of mammalian blood to insure reproduction. A substantial quantity of protein is provided by hemoglobin present in erythrocytes. Access to hemoglobin is accomplished only via erythrocyte lysis. It has been shown that midgut homogenates from the blood feeding stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, contain free fatty acids and it was proposed that these detergent-like compounds play a major role as hemolysins in the digestive physiology of this species. More recently sphingomyelinase activity was detected in midgut preparations of this fly, which would provide a potential tool for the enzymatic cleavage of the erythrocyte's membrane sphingomyelin. The action of specific hemolytic factors should affect the erythrocyte's morphology. The shape of bovine erythrocytes undergoing in vitro hemolysis by crude midgut homogenates from the stable fly was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document