Ectoparasites of cave-dwelling bat species in Bulgaria

0561187 - ÚBO 2023 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Ivanova-Aleksandrova, N. - Dundarova, H. - Neov, B. - Emilova, R. - Georgieva, I. - Antova, R. - Kirov, K. - Pikula, J. - Zukalová, K. - Zukal, Jan
Ectoparasites of cave-dwelling bat species in Bulgaria.
Proceedings of the Zoological Society. Roč. 75, č. 4 (2022), s. 463-468. ISSN 0373-5893
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Acarina * Caves * Chiroptera * Diptera * Siphonaptera
OECD category: Zoology
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12595-022-00451-4

The unique ecological conditions of Bulgarian caves allow them to be used by bats year-round, thereby providing an interesting model for research on host-parasite interactions, including the potential for transmission of different zoonotic pathogens. In this study, 142 cave-dwelling bats of thirteen species were caught in seven Bulgarian caves and examined for presence of ectoparasites. Bats were mist-netted at cave entrances between May 2020 and May 2021. All macroscopically visible ectoparasites were collected from each bat and stored separately in 96% ethanol. The greatest diversity of bat ticks, flies and fleas was observed on greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and common bent-wing bats Miniopterus schreibersii. Spinturnix myoti was the dominant ectoparasite collected at almost all localities and in all bat species. There was no significant difference in parasite load or diversity between the four most abundant bat species, each being infested with two specimens of a single parasite species on average. Though Bulgarian caves are used year-round by a range of bat species, parasite load and diversity remain low during the hibernation and migration periods. Mixed clusters of bats allow for inter-specific transmission of otherwise species-specific ectoparasites.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0333863