Wide Distribution and Diversity of Malaria-Related Haemosporidian Parasites (Polychromophilus spp.) in Bats and Their Ectoparasites in Eastern Europe

Malaria is responsible for major diseases of humans, while associated haemosporidians are important factors in regulating wildlife populations. Polychromophilus, a haemosporidian parasite bats, phylogenetically close to human-pathogenic Plasmodium species, and their study may provide further clues understanding the evolutionary relationships between vertebrates malarial parasites. Our aim was investigate distribution Polychromophilus spp. Eastern Europe test importance host ecology roost site on infection bats. We sampled bats ectoparasites at eight locations Romania Bulgaria. DNA extracted from blood samples tested individually presence using nested PCR targeting 705 bp fragment cytB. Two species were identified: Po. melanipherus Miniopterus schreibersii murinus rhinolophid vespertilionid (6 species) ticks nycteribiid flies. Only cave-dwelling bat (and ectoparasites) showed infections, we found strong correlation infections with parasites Nycteribiidae prevalence. report high genetic diversity Europe, suggesting that simultaneous varied vector assemblages enhances diversity.