Bats (Chiroptera) as Vectors of Diseases and Parasites: Facts and Myths (Parasitology Research Monographs Book 5)

This book gathers contributions by 16 international authors on the phenomenon “bats,” shedding some light on their morphology, the feeding behaviors (insects, fruits, blood) of different groups, their potential and confirmed transmissions of agents of diseases, their endo- and ectoparasites, as well as countless myths surrounding their lifestyle (e.g. vampirism, chupacabras, batman etc.). Bats have been known in different cultures for several thousand centuries, however their nocturnal activities have made them mysterious and led to many legends and myths, while proven facts remained scarce. Even today, our knowledge of bats remains limited compared to other groups in the animal kingdom. Also, their famous ability to avoid collisions with obstacles during their nightly flights with the help of a sophisticated and unique system using ultrasound waves (which are transmitted and received) is as poorly studied as birds finding their way from continent to continent. In recent times, where globalization transports millions of people and goods from one end of the earth to the other, there are increased risks posed by agents of diseases, as a result of which bats have received increasing attention as potential vectors. These suppositions are based on their proven transmission of viruses such as rabies. In dedicated chapters, the book addresses the following topics: • The world of bats • The astonishing morphology of bats • Bats as potential reservoir hosts for vector-borne diseases • Bat endoparasites • Macroparasites – ectoparasites • Glimpses into how bats fly • Blood-licking bats • Vampirism in medicine and culture • Chupacabras and “goat milkers” • Myths on candiru As such, this book provides a broad range of information for all non-experts interested in biological topics, but also for people working in this field, as well as physicians and veterinarians who are confronted with clinical cases, and for teachers and students interested in expanding their knowledge of biology and of past and present cultures. Preface 6 Acknowledgement 8 About the Editors 10 Contents 12 Chapter 1: Introduction: The World of Bats 14 References 18 Chapter 2: Bats: A Glimpse on Their Astonishing Morphology and Lifestyle 19 2.1 Systematic Position 19 2.2 Morphology 21 2.3 Food of Bats 26 2.4 Social Behavior and Reproduction 27 2.5 Geographic Range 28 2.6 Parasites 28 2.7 Bats as Victims and Vectors of Diseases 28 2.8 Bats and Men 31 References 34 Chapter 3: Bats as Potential Reservoir Hosts for Vector-Borne Diseases 37 3.1 Introduction 38 3.2 Pathogens in Bats, Humans and Haematophagic Insects 40 3.2.1 Bunyaviridae 40 3.2.2 Togaviridae 47 3.2.3 Flaviviridae: Flavivirus 52 3.3 Conclusion 60 References 61 Chapter 4: Bat Endoparasites: A UK Perspective 74 4.1 Introduction 75 4.2 Haematozoa 76 4.2.1 Trypanosomes 80 4.2.1.1 Schizotrypanum in UK Bats 80 4.2.1.2 Megatrypanum in UK Bats 81 4.2.2 Piroplasms in UK Bats 82 4.2.3 Haemosporidia in UK Bats 84 4.3 Gastrointestinal Parasites 85 4.3.1 Helminths in UK Bats 86 4.3.2 Coccidia in UK Bats 89 4.4 Toxoplasma gondii: A Significant Natural Reservoir in Bats? 90 4.5 Bat Health and Parasite Infection 91 4.6 Conclusions 92 4.6.1 Future Perspectives 92 References 94 Chapter 5: Macroparasites of Microchiroptera: Bat Ectoparasites of Central and South America 98 5.1 Introduction 99 5.2 Host-Parasite List 101 5.3 Contribution to the Bat Ectoparasite Fauna of Bolivia 132 5.4 Conclusion 133 References 136 Chapter 6: Parasitic Bat Flies (Diptera: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae): Host Specificity and Potential as Vectors 142 6.1 Introduction 143 6.2 Biology of Bat Flies 144 6.2.1 Overview 144 6.2.2 Life History 144 6.2.3 Host as Habitat 148 6.2.4 Roost as Habitat 149 6.2.5 Historical View of Host Specificity 151 6.3 Contemporary View of Host Specificity 152 6.3.1 Field Surveys and Natural History Collections 152 6.3.2 Experimental and Molecular Assessments 155 6.3.3 Maintenance of Specificity 156 6.3.4 Breakdown of Specificity 159 6.3.5 Potential as Vectors 160 References 162 Chapter 7: No Myth But Reality: Blood Licking Bats 167 References 170 Chapter 8: Vampirism in Medicine and Culture 171 8.1 Some Remarks on the Vampire in Southeast European Folklore 171 8.2 The Vampire and the Bat 173 8.3 Vampirism and Medical History 174 8.4 Bleeding and Blood Transfusion: Vampirism and the Humoural Pathology 175 8.5 The Extraction of Life Force: Vampirism and Magic Medicine 176 8.6 Vampirism as a Metaphor: On the Social Stigmatisation of ``Evil ́ ́ Persons 179 8.7 Vampirism and Esotericism: Some Remarks 180 8.8 A Final Remark: Vampirism and Everything 181 References 181 Chapter 9: Unsolved and Solved Myths: Chupacabras and ``Goat-Milking ́ ́ Birds 183 9.1 Chupacabras 184 9.2 Goat-Milking Birds: Nightjars 185 References 186 Chapter 10: Myth and Reality: Candiru, the Bloodsucking Fish That May Enter Humans 188 References 190 Index 191 This book gathers contributions by 16 international authors on the phenomenon "bats," shedding some light on their morphology, the feeding behaviors (insects, fruits, blood) of different groups, their potential and confirmed transmissions of agents of diseases, their endo- and ectoparasites, as well as countless myths surrounding their lifestyle (e.g. vampirism, chupacabras, batman etc.). Bats have been known in different cultures for several thousand centuries, however their nocturnal activities have made them mysterious and led to many legends and myths, while proven facts remained scarce. Even today, our knowledge of bats remains limited compared to other groups in the animal kingdom. Also, their famous ability to avoid collisions with obstacles during their nightly flights with the help of a sophisticated and unique system using ultrasound waves (which are transmitted and received) is as poorly studied as birds finding their way from continent to continent. In recent times, where globalization transports millions of people and goods from one end of the earth to the other, there are increased risks posed by agents of diseases, as a result of which bats have received increasing attention as potential vectors. These suppositions are based on their proven transmission of viruses such as rabies. In dedicated chapters, the book addresses the following topics: • The world of bats • The astonishing morphology of bats • Bats as potential reservoir hosts for vector-borne diseases • Bat endoparasites • Macroparasites – ectoparasites • Glimpses into how bats fly • Blood-licking bats • Vampirism in medicine and culture • Chupacabras and "goat milkers" • Myths on candiru As such, this book provides a broad range of information for all non-experts interested in biological topics, but also for people working in this field, as well as physicians and veterinarians who are confronted with clinical cases, and for teachers and students interested in exp anding their knowledge of biology and of past and present cultures Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction: The World of Bats....Pages 1-5 Bats: A Glimpse on Their Astonishing Morphology and Lifestyle....Pages 7-24 Bats as Potential Reservoir Hosts for Vector-Borne Diseases....Pages 25-61 Bat Endoparasites: A UK Perspective....Pages 63-86 Macroparasites of Microchiroptera: Bat Ectoparasites of Central and South America....Pages 87-130 Parasitic Bat Flies (Diptera: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae): Host Specificity and Potential as Vectors....Pages 131-155 No Myth But Reality: Blood Licking Bats....Pages 157-160 Vampirism in Medicine and Culture....Pages 161-172 Unsolved and Solved Myths: Chupacabras and “Goat-Milking” Birds....Pages 173-177 Myth and Reality: Candiru, the Bloodsucking Fish That May Enter Humans....Pages 179-181 Back Matter....Pages 183-187 This book gathers contributions by 16 international authors on the phenomenon “bats, â€+ shedding some light on their morphology, the feeding behaviors (insects, fruits, blood) of different groups, their potential and confirmed transmissions of agents of diseases, their endo- and ectoparasites, as well as countless myths surrounding their lifestyle (e.g. vampirism, chupacabras, batman etc.)