Trypanosome Species, Including Trypanosoma cruzi, in Sylvatic and Peridomestic Bats of Texas, USA

This study reveals that bats in the United States can harbor diverse trypanosome parasites, including the first reported case of Trypanosoma cruzi (the Chagas disease agent) in a US bat and the first North American detection of Trypanosoma dionisii. Researchers tested 593 bats across Texas, finding one bat (0.17%) positive for T. cruzi carrying the TcI strain associated with human disease, nine bats (1.5%) with T. dionisii showing three distinct variants across three bat species, and five bats (0.8%) with Blastocrithidia spp., marking the first detection of these insect trypanosomes in mammals. These findings highlight the potential role of migratory bats in transcontinental movement and maintenance of disease-causing parasites.

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