RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Bat trypanosomatids (first report of T. wauwau) in Triângulo Mineiro, Brazil JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 347146 DO 10.1101/347146 A1 Pablo de Oliveira Pegorari A1 César Gómez-Hernández A1 Cecilia G. Barbosa A1 Karine Rezende-Oliveira A1 André Luiz Pedrosa A1 Juan David Ramirez A1 Luis E. Ramirez YR 2018 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/06/14/347146.abstract AB In this study, trypanosomatids commonly found in bats, including Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei, T. dionisii, and Leishmania braziliensis, were identified. Additionally, T. wauwau was identified in one specimen of Anoura caudifer, and represents the first report of this parasite from the Central West region of Brazil. T. wauwau was previously identified by other researchers in the North of the country, in only three species of bats in the genus Pteronotus: P. parnellii (Pará and Rondônia states), and P. personatus and P. gymnonotus (Rondônia). The identification of T. wauwau indicates how different trypanosomatids are able to adapt to new host species of bats. This is owing to bats’ high mobility, wide geographic distribution, social behavior, and ability to coexist in large colonies. These characteristics may facilitate the transmission of infectious agents in nature, which are responsible for outbreaks of some zoonoses. Therefore, health authorities should focus on both vertebrates and vectors associated with the environments where these bats are found.Author summary The prevalence of Trypanosoma in bats is high, with T. cruzi, T. cruzi marinkellei, and T. dionisii as the most prevalent infective species. This study reports for the first time the presence of T. wauwau in the southeast region of Brazil in the bat Anoura caudifer. Although this species of Trypanosoma has been found in bats of the genus Pteronotus, it was not detected in any other genus, including in the bats that share the same shelter with Pteronotus. The species T. wauwau was found infecting bats only in Brazil. Its occurrence was restricted to the northern region of the country, in the states of Pará, infecting the species P. parnellii and in Rondônia infecting P. personatus, P. gymnonotus as well as P. parnellii. Although its morphology is similar to that of T. cruzi, little is known about the development of T. wauwau, both in its vertebrate host and the existence of a plausible invertebrate vector. Its characteristics include its inability to develop in mammalian cells and its non-infectiousness in mice and triatomine insects. Further research, through molecular studies, may provide important and valuable data for understanding the origin, evolution, and global distribution of, and the association between the different species of Trypanosoma and their hosts.