Mites and the mammal pathogenic fungus
Histoplasma capsulatum
are the major components of bat guano microbiota. Interactions between mites and
H. capsulatum were evaluated under laboratory
conditions. Acarid mites, mainly
Sancassania
, were the
most abundant microarthropod in the sampled guano of the Mexican bat
Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana
and, based on its morphology,
Sancassania sp. was similar to the cosmopolitan species
Sancassania sphaerogaster
.
The mycophagous and vectoring activities of this mite were tested for
H. capsulatum and two other fungal species,
Sporothrix schenckii
(pathogenic) and
Aspergillus sclerotiorum
(non-pathogenic).
S. ca.
sphaerogaster was able to reproduce in
H. capsulatum and
S. schenckii colonies, multiplying in great numbers under controlled fungal mycelial-phase culture conditions.
H. capsulatum colonies were completely destroyed
after 14 days of in vitro interaction with mites. In contrast,
S. ca.
sphaerogaster did not reproduce in
A. sclerotiorum cultures.
S. ca.
sphaerogaster was found vectoring
H. capsulatum, but not the two other fungal species studied.