Detection of Hepatocystis sp. in southeast Asian flying foxes (Pteropodidae) using microscopic and molecular methods.
Three species of flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus, P. vampyrus, and P. lylei) from Malaysia and Vietnam were screened for apicomplexan parasites by thin blood smears and polymerase chain reaction. Only 1 of 16 bats sampled from 3 localities in southeast Asia was found to be infected (P. hypomelanus from Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia). We observed micro- and macrogametocytes, with morphology consistent with Hepatocystis sp. parasites, using light microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b gene showed that the parasite from P. hypomelanus groups with 2 published sequences from Hepatocystis spp., including one from Cynopterus brachyotis, another fruit bat in the Pteropodidae.
Olival
Kevin J
KJ
Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, New York 10027, USA. kjo2002@columbia.edu
Stiner
Eric O
EO
Perkins
Susan L
SL
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D014744:Vietnam
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D045303:Cytochromes b