Diversity, Host Specialization, and Geographic Structure of Filarial Nematodes Infecting Malagasy Bats.

ABSTRACT: We investigated filarial infection in Malagasy bats to gain insights into the diversity of these parasites and explore the factors shaping their distribution. Samples were obtained from 947 individual bats collected from 52 sites on Madagascar and representing 31 of the 44 species currently recognized on the island. Samples were screened for the presence of micro- and macro-parasites through both molecular and morphological approaches. Phylogenetic analyses showed that filarial diversity in Malagasy bats formed three main groups, the most common represented by Litomosa spp. infecting Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae); a second group infecting Pipistrellus cf. hesperidus (Vespertilionidae) embedded within the Litomosoides cluster, which is recognized herein for the first time from Madagascar

SUBMITTER: Ramasindrazana B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4709050 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature