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Research article
Prevalence and phylogeny of Chlamydiae and hemotropic mycoplasma species in captive and free-living bats
Nicole Borel
University of Zurich
Corresponding Author
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Microbiology.
Background: Bats are hosts for a variety of microorganisms, however, little is known about the presence of Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas. This study investigated 475 captive and free-living bats from Switzerland, Germany, and Costa Rica for Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas by PCR to determine the prevalence and phylogeny of these organisms.
Results: Screening for Chlamydiales resulted in a total prevalence of 31.4%. Positive samples originated from captive and free-living bats from all three countries. Sequencing of 15 samples allowed the detection of two phylogenetically distinct groups. These groups share sequence identities to Chlamydiaceae, and to Chlamydia-like organisms including Rhabdochlamydiaceae and unclassified Chlamydiales from environmental samples, respectively.
PCR analysis for the presence of hemotropic mycoplasmas resulted in a total prevalence of 0.7%, comprising free-living bats from Germany and Costa Rica. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three sequences related to other unidentified mycoplasmas found in vampire bats and Chilean bats.
Conclusions: Bats can harbor Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas and the newly described sequences in this study indicate that the diversity of these bacteria in bats is much larger than previously thought. Both, Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas are not restricted to certain bat species or countries and captive and free-living bats can be colonized. In conclusion, bats represent another potential host or vector for novel, previously unidentified, Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas.
Keywords
Chlamydiales, hemotropic mycoplasmas, hemoplasmas, bats, DNA, qPCR
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 13 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 04 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 22 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 01 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 09 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 06 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 05 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 05 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 06 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 27 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Jan, 2020
First submitted
On 22 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Microbiology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Prevalence and phylogeny of Chlamydiae and hemotropic mycoplasma species in captive and free-living bats
Nicole Borel
University of Zurich
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 13 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 04 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 22 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 01 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 09 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 06 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 05 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 05 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 06 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 27 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Jan, 2020
First submitted
On 22 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Microbiology.
Background: Bats are hosts for a variety of microorganisms, however, little is known about the presence of Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas. This study investigated 475 captive and free-living bats from Switzerland, Germany, and Costa Rica for Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas by PCR to determine the prevalence and phylogeny of these organisms.
Results: Screening for Chlamydiales resulted in a total prevalence of 31.4%. Positive samples originated from captive and free-living bats from all three countries. Sequencing of 15 samples allowed the detection of two phylogenetically distinct groups. These groups share sequence identities to Chlamydiaceae, and to Chlamydia-like organisms including Rhabdochlamydiaceae and unclassified Chlamydiales from environmental samples, respectively.
PCR analysis for the presence of hemotropic mycoplasmas resulted in a total prevalence of 0.7%, comprising free-living bats from Germany and Costa Rica. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three sequences related to other unidentified mycoplasmas found in vampire bats and Chilean bats.
Conclusions: Bats can harbor Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas and the newly described sequences in this study indicate that the diversity of these bacteria in bats is much larger than previously thought. Both, Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas are not restricted to certain bat species or countries and captive and free-living bats can be colonized. In conclusion, bats represent another potential host or vector for novel, previously unidentified, Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas.
Figure 1
Figure 2