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Recently Discovered Iranian Population of Rousettus leschenaultii (Chiroptera; Petropodidae), Highlighting the Essential Need for Taxonomic Expertise in Applied Medical Sciences

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

2 Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences,Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

4 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Higher Educational Complex of Saravan, Saravan, Iran

5 Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

6 University of Gothenburg, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Systematics and Biodiversity, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

7 Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

Abstract

Background: Bats are potential reservoir hosts for vector-borne
diseases that can transmit many bacterial and viral agents to
humans. Fruit bats are considered reservoirs of many viruses
and they are of major importance in the medical sciences for
controlling and preventing vector-borne diseases. This study
aimed to compare the morphological and genetic differences of
two fruit bat species, Rousettus aegyptiacus and R. leschenaultii
in Iran, implying anessential need for taxonomic expertise in
applied medical sciences.
Methods: In this experimental study, we collected and identified
26 specimens of bats belonging to two fruit bat species from the
southeast of Iran. The morphological and genetic differences
were characterized between recently recorded migratory fruit
bat R. leschenaultii and the morphologically similar and resident
R. aegyptiacus. The haplotype network was generated using
the program POPART. The nucleotide variation and population
differentiation were calculated in DNAsp. Furthermore, we
considered additional records of 15 specimens from three
widespread bat species in the north of Iran.
Results: Morphological characterization of two fruit bat
species showed R. aegyptiacus is larger than R. leschenaultii
in morphometric variables except tail length (TL) for both
sexes. The demographic analyses revealed that all haplotypes
of R. leschenaulti formed a single haplogroup in the species’
distributional range. In contrast, haplotypes of R. aegyptiacus
were divided into five haplogroups respecting taxa/localities. The
results represent a strong signature of population expansion for
these two species of bats.
Conclusion: Population of the fruit bats throughout their ranges
in the Middle East may indicate an increased risk of the spread of
viral agents over time. Therefore, precise identification of hosts
and vectors in applied medical sciences is essential to conduct
standard procedures

Keywords

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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 10, Issue 1
January 2022
Pages 62-70
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