title: First amplification of Eimeria hessei DNA from the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and its phylogenetic relationships with Eimeria species from other bats and rodents.
abstract: Although coccidian parasites of the genus Eimeria are among the best-documented parasites in bats, few Eimeria species found in bats have been characterised using molecular tools, and none of the characterised species are found in European countries. Phylogenetic relationships of Eimeria species that parasitise bats and rodents can be related to the morphology of oocysts, independently from host range, suggesting that these species are derived from common ancestors. In the present study, we isolated a partial sequence of the Eimeria hessei 18S rRNA gene from the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros), a European bat species. Droppings from lesser horseshoe bats were collected from 11 maternity roosts located in France that were positive for the presence of the parasite. Through morphological characterisation, the oocysts detected in the lesser horseshoe bat droppings were confirmed to be E. hessei. The unique E. hessei sequence obtained through molecular analysis belonged to a clade that includes both rodent and bat Eimeria species. However, the E. hessei oocysts isolated from the bat droppings did not show morphological similarities to rodent Eimeria species.
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS, University of Franche-Comté, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon, France. Electronic address: eve.afonso@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS, University of Franche-Comté, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Emmanuel
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Baurand
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS, University of Franche-Comté, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon, France; ThéMA UMR 6049 CNRS, University of Franche-Comté, 32 rue Mégevand, F-25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Pierline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tournant
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS, University of Franche-Comté, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: 18S rRNA gene; Bat coccidia; Eimeria hessei; Oocysts; Phylogenetic analysis