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Prevalence and Host Specificity of Bat Flies (Streblidae) from Selected Caves in Unisan, Quezon, Philippines

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Abstract

Purpose

Bats belong to different guilds and thus differ in the environmental resources that they exploit. They also evolved to have a very rich diversity of roosting and feeding habits. Therefore, it enables them to harbor different species of parasites that could be zoonotic and may pose public health importance. The current study aimed to identify the ectoparasites of bats, under Family Streblidae, in different caves of Unisan, Quezon, Philippines.

Methods

Four caves were sampled in the study namely, Malusak, Mahangin, De Lamesa, and Bonifacio. Two mist nets for each cave were set up to capture bats. The bats were carefully observed for the presence of ectoparasites using forceps and cotton balls.

Results

Eight bat species belonging to four families, namely Hipposideridae, Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, and Pteropodidae, were recovered from the study. Results showed that 130 out of 202 (64.36%) bats were infested with streblids with an overall mean intensity of 1 ectoparasite/bat. Out of four streblid species, Brachytarsina werneri, Brachytarsina amboinensis, and Raymondia pseudopagodarum were classified as stenoxenous. High specificity index was recorded for R. pseudopagodarum (STD = 3) and low specificity index for Brachytarsina species.

Conclusion

These results can be used by the local government in providing necessary actions that may lead to public awareness as these bats may also play a role in the transmission of zoonotic parasites in the area.

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source: QGIA, 2018)

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to acknowledge Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office No. IV-A for the endorsement of wildlife gratuitous permit and assistance from the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department of Southern Luzon State University.

Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Southern Luzon State University, 4328, Lucban, Quezon, Philippines

    Maria Camila N. Obdianela, Ma. Patricia Venice V. Guanlao, Essex Vladimer E. Samaniego & Kathleen O. Pornobi

Authors
  1. Maria Camila N. Obdianela
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  2. Ma. Patricia Venice V. Guanlao
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  3. Essex Vladimer E. Samaniego
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  4. Kathleen O. Pornobi
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Contributions

MCO: Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Data Curation MPVG Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Data Curation EVS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing-Review & Editing, Validation, Formal Analysis, Supervision, Project Administration KP: Validation, Formal Analysis, Resources, Data Curation, Writing-Original Draft, Writing-Review & Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen O. Pornobi.

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Conflict of Interest

None declared.

Ethics Approval

Wildlife Gratuitous Permit No. R4A-WGP-2018-QUE-024 was endorsed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office No. IV-A.

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Not applicable 2.

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All the authors whose names appear on the submission, have contributed to the study and approved for its publication.

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Obdianela, M.C.N., Guanlao, M.P.V.V., Samaniego, E.V.E. et al. Prevalence and Host Specificity of Bat Flies (Streblidae) from Selected Caves in Unisan, Quezon, Philippines. Acta Parasit. 66, 983–988 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00373-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00373-9

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