Bartonella spp. in cave bats and their ectoparasitic flies: diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and interaction networks

• Grant number: 23/01606-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2023 - June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Convênio/Acordo: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Rogério André
• Grantee: Marcos Rogério André
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/08543-2 - Looking for the diversity of Bartonella spp. in mammals, birds and hematophagous dipterans in Brazil, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/09610-8 - Bartonella spp. in cave bats and their ectoparasitic flies: diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and interaction networks, BP.JD

Abstract

Bats are ecologically diverse mammals, mainly known for playing important roles in the maintenance of ecosystems, through seed dispersal, pollination, and insect control. In Brazil, at least 72 species of bats, out of the 182 known, use caves as roost where they can form large aggregations. In northeastern Brazil, for example, some caves concentrate bat populations that can reach more than 100,000 individuals and, in some roost, up to 10 species at the same time. Bats are also recognized as important natural reservoirs for several pathogenic agents that can cause diseases in several groups of animals, including humans. Among these pathogenic agents, special attention has been given to bacteria of the genus Bartonella, whose transmission is mainly mediated by arthropod vectors. Recent studies have also detected Bartonella spp. in bat ectoparasitic flies of the Streblidae family, indicating the potential role of these arthropods as vectors. Bats are important candidates for studies on issues involving pathogenic agents because they have great ecological diversity, species richness, dispersal capacity and are hosts for several organisms with zoonotic and vector potential. In this context, the present project has as its central scope to unravel the diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and interaction networks of Bartonella genotypes detected in cave bats and their ectoparasitic flies in four states in northeastern Brazil. Among the results to be achieved, it is expected to encourage research on Bartonella spp., providing a scientific basis for future studies, both in the country and in the world, on prevention and control. (AU)