Molecular detection of trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma livingstonei species group in diverse bat species in Central Cameroon

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 123; no. 7; p. 280
• Main Authors: Tsague, K. J. A., Bakwo Fils, E. M., Atagana, J. P., Mbeng, D. W., Palm, L., Tchuinkam, T., Schaer, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Bats; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cameroon - epidemiology; Chiroptera - parasitology; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Genetic Variation; Geographical distribution; Host range; Host specificity; Immunology; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Species; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma - classification; Trypanosoma - genetics; Trypanosoma - isolation & purification; Trypanosomiasis - epidemiology; Trypanosomiasis - parasitology; Trypanosomiasis - veterinary; Cameroon; Bats; Co-infection; Africa; T. cruzi; Trypanosoma
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08303-0

Bats are hosts for diverse
Trypanosoma
species, including trypanosomes of the
Trypanosoma cruzi
clade. This clade is believed to have originated in Africa and diversified in many lineages worldwide. In several geographical areas, including Cameroon, no data about trypanosomes of bats has been collected yet. In this study, we investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes of different bat species in the central region of Cameroon. Trypanosome infections were detected in six bat species of four bat families, namely Hipposideridae, Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, and Vespertilionidae, with an overall prevalence of 29% and the highest infection rate in hipposiderid bat species
.
All trypanosomes were identified as belonging to the
Trypanosoma livingstonei
species group with one clade that might represent an additional subspecies of
T. livingstonei
. Understanding the prevalence, distribution, and host range of parasites of this group contributes to our overall knowledge of the diversity and host specificity of trypanosome species that phylogenetically group at the base of the
T. cruzi
clade.