Disentangling effects of anthropogenic disturbance and community structure on multi-pathogen dynamics in tropical cave-dwelling bat communities

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Amanda Vicente-Santos, University of Oklahoma; Paula Ledezma-Campos, University of Costa Rica; Bernal Rodriguez-Herrera, University of Costa Rica; Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar, University of Costa Rica; Gabor Czirjak, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; David Civitello, Emory University; Thomas R. Gillespie, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-08-23
• Publisher: Research Square
• Publication Version: Preprint (Prior to Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Research Square 2023
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3073229/v2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Research Square
• Grant/Funding Information: The study was supported by the American Society of Mammalogists, Bat Conservation International, The Explorers Club, Cave Research Foundation, The Emory Global Health Institute, Professional Development Support Funds from Emory University, a Halle Foundation Collaborative Research Grant from the Halle Institute at Emory University, and the Vicerrectoría de Investigación - UCR. AVS was supported by U.S. Department of State – Fulbright Fellowship and the Population Biology Ecology and Evolution Ph.D. program at Emory University. DJC was supported by NSF IOS 1755002 and NIAID 1R01 AI150774.
• Keywords: amplification effect; biodiversity; multi-host pathogens; anthropogenic disturbance; tropical seasonality; dilution effect; community disease ecology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Pathology; Biology, Ecology; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Cave-dwelling bats' persistence in degraded habitats provides a unique opportunity to examine the dual effects of community structure versus habitat degradation on disease prevalence. To evaluate how disturbance and cave complexity influenced bat community composition and the prevalence of multiple pathogens in bat communities, we conducted surveys of 15 caves in Costa Rica along an anthropogenic disturbance gradient. Collecting samples from 1,238 individuals, representing 17 species from four families, we determined the prevalence of four common and divergent pathogens: Bartonella (19.7%), Leptospira(22.7%), Trypanosoma (32.0%), and microfilaria (6.6%). Cave complexity, but not disturbance, predicted bat community composition—however, degraded habitats sustained smaller populations. For bat richness, we found a negative association with Bartonella prevalence, but a positive association with Trypanosoma and microfilaria and no association with Leptospira. Using a multi-host, multi-pathogen system, our work provides insight into the complex patterns of pathogen dynamics and bat community ecology in changing environments.