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Tripartite associations between Afrotropical bats, eukaryotic parasites, and microbial symbionts
  • Holly Lutz,
  • Jack Gilbert,
  • Carl Dick
Holly Lutz
University of California San Diego

Corresponding Author:hlutz@fieldmuseum.org

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Jack Gilbert
University of California San Diego
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Carl Dick
Western Kentucky University
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Abstract

Skin is the largest mammalian organ and the first defensive barrier against the external environment. The skin and fur of mammals can host a wide variety of ectoparasites, many of which are phylogenetically diverse, specialized, and specifically adapted to their hosts. Among hematophagous dipteran parasites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to serve as important attractants, leading parasites to compatible sources of blood meals. VOCs have been hypothesized to be mediated by host-associated bacteria, which may thereby indirectly influence parasitism. Host-associated bacteria may also influence parasitism directly, as has been observed in interactions between animal gut microbiota and malarial parasites. Hypotheses relating bacterial symbionts and eukaryotic parasitism have rarely been tested among humans and domestic animals, and have to our knowledge never been tested in wild vertebrates. In this study, we use Afrotropical bats, hematophagous ectoparasitic bat flies, and haemosporidian (malarial) parasites vectored by bat flies as a model to test the hypothesis that the vertebrate host microbiome is linked to parasitism in a wild system. We identify significant correlations between bacterial community composition of the skin and dipteran ectoparasite prevalence across four major bat lineages, as well as striking differences in skin microbial network characteristics between ectoparasitized and non-ectoparasitized bats. We also identify links between the oral microbiome and presence of malarial parasites among miniopterid bats. Our results support the hypothesis that microbial symbionts may serve as indirect mediators of parasitism among eukaryotic hosts and parasites.
30 Oct 2020Submitted to Molecular Ecology
01 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
01 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
18 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
06 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 May 20211st Revision Received
16 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Accept