Trypanosomiasis in an Australian little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus). Issue 7 (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mackie, JT; Stenner, R; Gillett, AK; Barbosa, A; Ryan, U; Irwin, PJ
• Is Part Of: Australian veterinary journal. Volume 95:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 259
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: anaemia -- bats -- flying foxes -- haemolysis -- trypanosomes; Veterinary medicine -- Australia -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-0423

Abstract

Abstract : Case report: An adult female Australian little red flying fox ( Pteropus scapulatus) presented with icterus and anaemia. Examination of a blood smear revealed numerous trypanosomes 20.4–30.8 µm long with tapered ends. Necropsy and histological findings were consistent with trypanosome infection of lymphoid tissue and intravascular haemolysis. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated this trypanosome species to be genetically distinct and most similar to Trypanosoma minasense and Trypanosoma rangeli (with a genetic distance of 1% at the 18S rRNA locus for both). Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of a trypanosome infection associated with clinical disease in bats.