Speaker
Description
Bats are keystone species and indicators of ecosystem health. Additionally, surveillance offers insights into zoonotic risks and anthropogenic impacts. Thus, understanding diseases and mortality in local bats enables assessing potential threats to animals, humans and the environment.
This interdisciplinary project combines macroscopic and histopathological examination, pathogen detection as well as analyses of the immune system. Additionally, a tissue biobank has been established to support future research. To date, 30 bats representing 11 species have been examined. Causes of mortality were classified according to the WHO ICD-11 system. Findings are integrated into science communication and educational activities.
Trauma was the leading cause of mortality (40%; n = 12), mainly blunt force trauma consistent with collisions, and sharp trauma consistent with predation. Combined infection and trauma (comorbidity; order unclear) represented the second most common cause (20%; n = 6), followed by infection alone (17%; n = 5), including one Daubenton’s bat with polioencephalitis associated with European bat lyssavirus 2 infection. Furthermore, 63% (n = 19) of examined bats revealed predominantly subclinical endoparasitic infections, mainly trematodes.
Continued health surveillance of endemic bats will improve our understanding of host–pathogen interactions and support the One Health approach. A key challenge remains balancing public awareness of health risks with bat conservation.
Keywords
bat health, conservation, veterinary pathology, surveillance, wildlife health, One Health, zoonoses, pandemic prevention
| Registration ID | OHS26-169 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | Postdoc |
| Junior Scientist Status | Yes, I am a Junior Scientist. |
Author
Co-authors
External references
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