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. 2016 Sep 1;53(5):1218-1225.
doi: 10.1093/jme/tjw078.

Ecology of Bats, Their Ectoparasites, and Associated Pathogens on Saint Kitts Island

Will K Reeves  1 , Jason Beck  2 , Maria V Orlova  3 , Jennifer L Daly  4 , Kristi Pippin  4 , Floyd Revan  4 , Amanda D Loftis  4
Affiliations

Ecology of Bats, Their Ectoparasites, and Associated Pathogens on Saint Kitts Island

Will K Reeves et al. J Med Entomol. .

Abstract

Ectoparasites of bats and bat-associated pathogens are poorly studied in the Lesser Antilles Islands. We report on an 11-mo field study on Saint Kitts Island of bat populations, their associated ectoparasites, and pathogens. We report on five ectoparasite species, including four Streblidae (Diptera) and a Spinturnicidae (Acari). Several genotypes of unnamed Bartonella were isolated from bats and ectoparasites. Microfilaria of an undetermined Litomosoides spp. were detected in blood from Artibeus jamaicensis Leach (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) (and associated ectoparasites: Trichobius intermedius Peterson and Hurka (Diptera: Streblidae) and Periglischrus iheringi Oudemans (Acari: Spinturnicidae)). In addition, an Ehrlichia sp. and Rickettsia africae were detected in the blood of several bat species. Our study is one of the first surveys of ectoparasite-borne pathogens in wild mammals from St. Kitts.

Keywords: Bartonella; Litomosoides; Chiroptera; Spinturnicidae; Streblidae.

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