Parasitic fauna of bats from Costa Rica

Research on the parasitic fauna of bats from Costa Rica's Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves reveals significant findings about pathogen spread and zoonotic potential. The study identified a diverse range of ectoparasites, including mites, flies, and ticks, with Rickettsia spp. detected in an immature tick, suggesting a link to spotted fever group pathogens. Gastrointestinal parasites such as Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Eimeria spp. were also found, highlighting bats' role as potential spreaders of diseases. The study sampled 113 bats across two sites, using morphological and molecular identification techniques to analyze ectoparasites and fecal samples for pathogens. These findings underscore the need for further investigation into the pathogenic potential of parasites in neotropical bat populations.

Carbonara, M., Mendonza-Roldan, J. A., Perles, L., Alfaro-Alarcon, A., Romero, L. M., Murillo, D. B., Piche-Ovares, M., Corrales-Aguilar, E., Iatta, R., Walochnik, J., Santoro, M., & Otranto, D. (2023). Parasitic fauna of bats from Costa Rica. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 20, 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.12.006