Ectoparasite Infestation of Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in Kagera, Tanzania: First Records of Fleas, Mites, and Ticks

Abstract

Bats are recognized as important hosts of diverse ectoparasite communities that play significant roles in parasite ecology and pathogen transmission. However, knowledge of bat-associated arthropods in Tanzania remains limited. This study investigated the ectoparasites infesting cave-dwelling Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in the Kagera Region, northwestern Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in four caves of Kyerwa districts, Muleba districts and Bukoba rural.  Among 193 bats examined six fleas were recovered from five bats, two mites from two bats, and two ticks from two bats. Morphological examination identified three groups of ectoparasites: fleas (Thaumapsylla sp.), ticks (Amblyomma sp.), and mites (Meristaspis sp.). Flea specimens were further characterized using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed their identity as Thaumapsylla breviceps (T. breviceps). To our knowledge, this represents the first documented record of T. breviceps, Amblyomma sp., and Meristaspis sp. infesting R. aegyptiacus in the Kagera Region of Tanzania. These findings expand the current knowledge of bat-associated ectoparasite diversity in East Africa and provide a baseline for future studies on parasite ecology, host-parasite associations, and the ectoparasite diversity.