Publication details
Erythrocyte size in bats - factor determining host choice in Cimicids (Heteroptera: Cimicidae)
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| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| Citation | |
| Description | Bats are hosts of many different parasites. Their ecology and morphology found to determine host choice and preferences of different parasites according to different bat species. One of the most common ectoparasite belongs to Cimicidae family, hematophagous insects which life cycle, reproduction and survival rate depends on blood of its hosts. Two lineages of Cimex lectularius, bat and human associated, were established. Between two lineages of bed bug fed on bat and human blood we found some differences in speed of moulting, length of life and reproduction success in cross-host experiments. Moreover bat associated bugs occur at few bat species (Myotis myotis, M.emarginatus) and recently in relative bug - C. pipistrelli different ecotypes bat species specific were found. It was considered that bug proboscis could be very narrow and it is possible that red cells (RBC) do not pass through it. Therefore main aim of our study was to check if RBC size has an impact on occurrence of cimicids in particular bat species. Except one observation on Plecotus auritus, bed/bat bug never occurred at some bat species (Barbastella barbastellus, Rhinolophus hipposideros and Plecotus austriacus). We called them as non-specific bug hosts, while other bat species as specific hosts. We collected blood samples from seven bat genera represented by 12 different species from Vespertilionidae family (n=20) and Rhinolophidae (n=1). Diameters of red cells from bat hosts – specific, non-specific and humans were measured and compared. We find out differences between bat species however there was no clear correlation in erythrocyte size between specific and non-specific hosts. Therefore RBC probably is not an issue why these bat species are not parasitized by cimicids. |