New paper in Scientific Reports
Hepatocystis parasites are closely related to mammalian Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria. We identified a region of exceptionally high prevalence of Hepatocystis infections in Old World fruit bats in South Sudan with an average of 93 percent prevalence in African epauletted fruit bats. A clear seasonal pattern and tolerance of high parasite loads in these bats was observed. Phylogenetic analyses revealed several cryptic Hepatocystis parasite species and, in contrast to mammalian Plasmodium parasites, neither host specificity nor strong geographical patterns were evident.
Epauletted fruit bats display exceptionally high infections with a Hepatocystis species complex in South Sudan.
Schaer J, Perkins SL, Ejotre E, Vodzak ME, Matuschewski K, Reeder DM. Sci. Rep. 7, 6928 (2017 Jul 31). doi:10.1038/s41598-017-07093-z.