我们调查了外寄生虫的多样性,栖息果蝙蝠的种间侵染率和寄主偏好,EidolonHelvum,来自鲍恩大学,尼日利亚西南部。从2021年1月至2022年6月,每月对捕获的E.helvum的毛皮进行外寄生虫采样。我们共检查了231例E.helvum,观察到女性与男性的成年性别比(0.22:1);外寄生虫感染率为53.9%。我们鉴定并列举了体外寄生虫;并将其细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I(COI)基因与其他线虫进行系统发育分析。获得的COI基因序列与其他C.greeffi序列形成了不同的进化枝。我们总共回收了319例(149例雌性和170例雄性)外寄生虫,并观察到平衡的C.greeffi雌性与雄性成年性别比为0.88:1。体外寄生虫的性别分布与宿主性别和季节无关。雨季的患病率明显更高,但不是E.helvum的性别之间。侵扰的强度,每果蝙蝠3.7±0.4个个体,在雨季明显更高,具有双峰季节性分布。强烈的男性偏向宿主成人性别比对C.greeffi人群成人性别比没有显着影响。
We investigated ectoparasite diversity, interspecific infestation rates and host preference in roosting fruit bats, Eidolon helvum, from Bowen University, Southwest Nigeria. Fur of captured E. helvum were sampled monthly for ectoparasites from January 2021 to June 2022. We examined a total of 231 E. helvum and observed a significant female to male adult sex ratio (0.22:1); with 53.9% ectoparasitic infestation rate. We identified and enumerated the ectoparasite; and subjected its Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to phylogenetic analysis with other nycteribiids. COI gene sequences obtained formed a distinct clade with other C. greeffi sequences. We recovered a total of 319 (149 female and 170 male) ectoparasites and observed a balanced C. greeffi female to male adult sex ratio of 0.88:1. Ectoparasitic sex distribution had no association with host sex and season. Prevalence was significantly higher during the wet season, but not between sexes of E. helvum. The intensity of infestation, 3.7 ± 0.4 individuals per fruit bat, was significantly higher during the wet season with a bimodal seasonal distribution. The strongly male-biased host adult sex ratio had no significant influence on C. greeffi metapopulation adult sex ratio.