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Demodicosis in a captive African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum)

Bianco, C; Baker, KS; Pazzini, L; Cafiso, A; Suu-Ire, RD; Cunningham, A; Wood, JLN; (2019) Demodicosis in a captive African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum). Experimental and Applied Acarology , 78 (4) pp. 547-554. 10.1007/s10493-019-00399-9. Green open access

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Abstract

Demodicosis is most frequently observed in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), but it has rarely been reported in bats (Chiroptera). The overpopulation of Demodex spp. that causes dermatological changes is generally associated with a compromised immune system. We describe the gross and histological features of generalized demodicosis in an adult female African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) drawn from a captive research colony. The histology of the lesions revealed comedones and follicular infundubular cysts harbouring numerous Demodex spp. mites, eliciting a minimal inflammatory response in the adjacent dermis. The histological examination of a full set of tissues did not reveal clear evidence of immunosuppression, although a clinical history of recent abortion and possible stressors due to captivity could be considered risk factors for the demodicosis. Attempts to determine the Demodex species using PCR on DNA extracted from the formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue failed. This is the first clinical and histological description of demodicosis in Eidolon helvum.

Type: Article
Title: Demodicosis in a captive African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum)
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00399-9
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00399-9
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Bat, Demodex, Dermatology, Veterinary pathology, Wildlife diseases
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Genetics, Evolution and Environment
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10076898
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