Case report: Filarial infection of a parti-coloured bat: Litomosa sp. adult worms in abdominal cavity and microfilariae in bat semen

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F23%3A00576959" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/23:00576959 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081766:_____/23:00576959 RIV/68081731:_____/23:00576959 RIV/62157124:16270/23:43880965 RIV/62157124:16170/23:43880965 RIV/00216224:14310/23:00132124

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1284025/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1284025/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1284025" target="_blank" >10.3389/fvets.2023.1284025</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Case report: Filarial infection of a parti-coloured bat: Litomosa sp. adult worms in abdominal cavity and microfilariae in bat semen

Original language description

<bold>Background:</bold> Filarial infections have been understudied in bats. Likewise, little is known about pathogens associated with the reproductive system in chiropterans. While semen quality is critical for reproductive success, semen-borne pathogens may contribute to reproductive failure.<bold>Methods:</bold> For the first time we performed electroejaculation and used computer-assisted semen analysis to provide baseline data on semen quality in a parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus).<bold>Results:</bold> The semen quality values measured in the V. murinus male appeared high (semen concentration = 305.4 x 10(6)/mL, progressive and motile sperm = 46.58 and 60.27%, respectively). As an incidental finding, however, microfilariae were observed in the bat semen examined. At necropsy, eight adult filarial worms, later genetically identified as Litomosa sp., were found in the peritoneal cavity, close to the stomach, of the same particoloured bat male dying as a result of dysmicrobia and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in a wildlife rescue centre. Histopathology revealed microfilariae in the testicular connective tissue and the epidydimal connective and fat tissues. A PCR assay targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 confirmed that adult worms from the peritoneal cavity and testicular microfilariae were of the same filarial species. Mildly engorged argasid mite larvae attached to the bat skin proved negative for filarial DNA and the adult filarial worms proved negative for endosymbiont Wolbachia.<bold>Conclusion:</bold> While the standard filarial life cycle pattern involves a vertebrate definitive host and an invertebrate vector, represented by a blood-sucking ectoparasite, our finding suggests that microfilariae of this nematode species may also be semen-borne, with transmission intensity promoted by the polygynous mating system of vespertilionid bats in which an infected male mates with many females during the autumn swarming. Presence of microfilariae may be expected to decrease semen quality and transmission via this route may challenge the success of reproductive events in females after mating. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the bat-parasite interaction and the life cycle of this filarial worm.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

30303 - Infectious Diseases

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA21-12719S" target="_blank" >GA21-12719S: Mycobacteria in bats and their role in health and disease</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

ISSN

2297-1769

e-ISSN

2297-1769

Volume of the periodical

10

Issue of the periodical within the volume

SEP

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

1284025

UT code for WoS article

001078048400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85173717865