Diversity and seasonality of ectoparasite burden on two species of Madagascar fruit bat, <i>Eidolon dupreanum</i> and <i>Rousettus madagascariensis</i>.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bats are important reservoir hosts for a variety of microparasites, some of which are transmitted by ectoparasite vectors that include mites, fleas, lice, ticks, and bat flies (families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae). All of these ectoparasite taxa are known to parasitize two endemic fruit bats of Madagascar, Eidolon dupreanum and Rousettus madagascariensis. We aimed to describe the diversity of ectoparasite infestation for both bat species through morphological observation and DNA barcoding and elucidate ecological and climatic correlates of seasonal nycteribiid parasitism of these hosts.

Methods

Live E. dupreanum and R. madagascariensis fruit bats were captured monthly in northern and central-eastern Madagascar from 2013-2020. Ectopara

SUBMITTER: Andrianiaina AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11785112 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature