Tripanosomatide infection in chiropters captured in the city of Natal-RN
Chiropterans; Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum, trypanosomatids, bats.
Trypanosomatids are parasite protozoa belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family, which inhere Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum, etiologic parasites of Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis. Chiropterans are ancient and natural hosts of T. cruzi and L. infantum. However, the participation of bats in the epidemiological cycle of T. cruzi and L. infantum is still underestimated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the infection rate by trypanosomatids in chiropterans captured in the city of Natal-RN. Ninety-five bats were collected together with Zoonosis Control Center (CCZ) of Natal between 2019 and 2020, 50 animals from passive capture in urban areas and 45 obtained from active capture, using fog nets, in an environmental preservation area (Parque das Dunas) in the municipality of Natal-RN. Animals were identified, euthanized, and fragments of liver, spleen and skin were collected. DNA was extracted and PCR for T. cruzi kDNA and HSP70 which detects the Leishmania genus were performed. The species Artibeus planirostris was the most prevalent among bats captured in urban environments and Parque das Dunas, presented 95% and 56% of infection by Leishmania spp and T. cruzi, respectively. The total rate of bats infection by T. cruzi, Leishmania spp, and co-infected T. cruzi/Leishmania was 56% (53/95), 77% (69/95) and 41% (39/95), respectively. Leishmania spp was detected into the skin of 55% (43/79) of animals evaluated. Animals captured in Parque das Dunas showed a higher rate of infection by the evaluated parasites (91%), when compared to bats captured in the urban environment (84%). Fruit-eating chiropterans (90%) had a higher rate of infection by Leishmania, when compared to insectivores (65%) and nectarivores (33%). On the other hand, nectarivorous bats (83%) had a higher infection with T. cruzi, when compared to frugivorous (56%) and insectivorous (52%). Our results demonstrate a high infection rate by trypanosomatids in chiropterans captured in the city of Natal-RN, indicating that they could participate in the epidemiological transmission cycle of Leishmania and T. cruzi.