Ecology of Bats, Their Ectoparasites, and Associated Pathogens on Saint Kitts Island.
Ectoparasites of bats and bat-associated pathogens are poorly studied in the Lesser Antilles Islands. We report on an 11-mo field study on Saint Kitts Island of bat populations, their associated ectoparasites, and pathogens. We report on five ectoparasite species, including four Streblidae (Diptera) and a Spinturnicidae (Acari). Several genotypes of unnamed Bartonella were isolated from bats and ectoparasites. Microfilaria of an undetermined Litomosoides spp. were detected in blood from Artibeus jamaicensis Leach (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) (and associated ectoparasites: Trichobius intermedius Peterson and Hurka (Diptera: Streblidae) and Periglischrus iheringi Oudemans (Acari: Spinturnicidae)). In addition, an Ehrlichia sp. and Rickettsia africae were detected in the blood of several bat species. Our study is one of the first surveys of ectoparasite-borne pathogens in wild mammals from St. Kitts.
USASAM/PHR, 2510 5th St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, US Air Force, Dayton, OH (will.reeves@us.af.mil).
Will K
WK
Reeves
Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1345 Barton Rd., Pocatello, ID 83204 (jason.beck@idfg.idaho.gov).
Jason
J
Beck
National Research Tomsk State University, 36, Lenina str., Tomsk 634050, Russia (masha_orlova@mail.ru).
Maria V
MV
Orlova
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P O Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis (jobrosky20@gmail.com; kpippin@spcaflorida.org; floydrevan@gmail.com; adloftis@gmail.com).
Jennifer L
JL
Daly
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P O Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis (jobrosky20@gmail.com; kpippin@spcaflorida.org; floydrevan@gmail.com; adloftis@gmail.com).
Kristi
K
Pippin
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P O Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis (jobrosky20@gmail.com; kpippin@spcaflorida.org; floydrevan@gmail.com; adloftis@gmail.com).
Floyd
F
Revan
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P O Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis (jobrosky20@gmail.com; kpippin@spcaflorida.org; floydrevan@gmail.com; adloftis@gmail.com).
Amanda D
AD
Loftis

          Bartonella
        ; 
          Litomosoides
        ; Chiroptera; Spinturnicidae; Streblidae