Background
:
45
Microbats (Chiroptera: Microchiropte
ra) are among the most eco
-
epidemiologically important
46
mammals, owing to their presence in human settlements and ani
mal keeping facilities
.
47
Roosting of bats in buildings may bring pathogens of veterinary
-
medical importance into the
48
environment of domestic
animals and humans. In this context bats
have long been studied as
49
carriers of various pathogen groups. However,
despite their close association with arthropods
50
(both in their f
oo
d and as their ectoparasites),
only
a
few molecular surveys have been
51
publish
ed on their role as carriers of vector
-
borne protozoa. The aim
of the present study was
52
to compensate for this scarcity of information.
53
Findings
:
54
Altogether 221 (mostly individual) bat faecal samples were collected in Hungary and the
55
Netherlands. The DNA w
as extracted
,
and analysed with PCR and sequencing for the
56
presence of arthropod
-
borne apicomplexan protozoa.
Babesia canis canis
(with 99
-
100%
57
homology) was identified in five samples, all from Hungary. Because it was excluded with an
58
Ixodidae
-
specific PC
R that the relevant bats consumed ticks, these sequences derive either
59
from insect
carriers
of
Ba. canis
, or from the infection
of
bats. In one
bat faecal
sample from
60
the Netherlands a sequence having the highest (99%) homology to
Besnoitia besnoiti
was
61
am
plified.
62
Conclusions
:
63
The
se
findings
suggest
that some aspects of the epidemiology of canine babesiosis are
64
underestimated or unknown, i.e. the potential role of insect
-
borne mechanical transmission
65
and/or the susceptibility of bats
to
Ba. canis
. In addit
ion, b
ats need to be added to future
66
studies in the quest for
the
final host of
Be. besnoiti
