Hidden diversity and host specificity of bat trypanosomes in East and Central Africa

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F25%3A00639109" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/25:00639109 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081766:_____/25:00639109 RIV/00216208:11310/25:10503669

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-025-08547-4" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-025-08547-4</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08547-4" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00436-025-08547-4</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Hidden diversity and host specificity of bat trypanosomes in East and Central Africa

Original language description

Bats are recognized as key reservoir hosts for a variety of trypanosomes, yet their full diversity and host associations remain underexplored in Africa. In this study, we investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes infecting bats in Uganda and the Central African Republic (CAR) using molecular tools. A total of 22 distinct genotypes were identified, clustering into seven well-supported phylogroups, including known species such as Trypanosoma dionisii, T. livingstonei, T. vespertilionis, and T. erneyi, alongside several novel lineages. Notably, T. erneyi was restricted to Mops condylurus, reaffirming its narrow host specificity. Phylogenetic analyses revealed substantial intraspecific diversity in T. livingstonei and T. vespertilionis, suggesting potential cryptic species, while T. dionisii exhibited limited genetic divergence across a broad geographic range. Intriguingly, a unique and highly diverse phylogroup was detected exclusively in fruit bats (Pteropodidae) from Uganda, closely related to the Australian T. teixeirae, and likely represents a novel species. The absence of trypanosomes in fruit bats from CAR, despite similar sampling effort, hints at ecological or evolutionary factors shaping parasite distribution. Our findings expand the current knowledge of bat-trypanosome diversity and highlight the importance of African bat populations in understanding the evolutionary dynamics of trypanosomes.

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

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OECD FORD branch

10619 - Biodiversity conservation

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

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

Name of the periodical

Parasitology Research

ISSN

0932-0113

e-ISSN

1432-1955

Volume of the periodical

124

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

DE - GERMANY

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

101

UT code for WoS article

001570779800002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105015447562