Evolutionary history of Indian Ocean nycteribiid bat flies mirroring the ecology of their hosts.

ABSTRACT: Bats and their parasites are increasingly investigated for their role in maintenance and transmission of potentially emerging pathogens. The islands of the western Indian Ocean hold nearly 50 bat species, mostly endemic and taxonomically well studied. However, investigation of associated viral, bacterial, and external parasites has lagged behind. In the case of their ectoparasites, more detailed information should provide insights into the evolutionary history of their hosts, as well as pathogen cycles in these wild animals. Here we investigate species of Nycteribiidae, a family of obligate hematophagous wingless flies parasitizing bats. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we describe fly species diversity sampled on Madagascar and the Comoros for two cave-roosting bat genera wit

SUBMITTER: Tortosa P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3785519 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature