Does anyone know a fast and simple method (apart of using tweezers) to sample ectoparasites (especially bat flies, Nycteribiidae, but also mites and ticks) on small bats (15 g)? We release the bats after sampling.
The bats themselves can be caught using spider nets for birds, with the subsequent return of the mice to their habitat after removal by the conventional parasite technique. Can also be harvested by hand, provided that bats gather during the day under rooftops, in caves, etc.
Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin
If these are fleas, then the bat can be placed in an enamel basin.
Fleas are clearly visible on the white pelvis. If mites, then the most effective collection is manual with tweezers. We do this. If you do not care about the life of the owner, then this process can be accelerated. Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin
Hi.
Regarding to this question, I remember to collect some bat ectoparasites (like Acari) in the patagium of diffefent species simply taking them with care and putting the samples in alcohol, inside small plastic tubes. Naturally, after this procedure and measuring them, bats were released in the same locality in which they were captured.
Hi, I collected mites from flies using brush and pointy end of needle attached to stick. Using tweezer can sometimes squish their tiny body if too much force is applied. Hope it helps.
Hi, In our article "Postnatal Variation in Ectoparasite (Spinturnix emarginata) Load in Neonates of Geoffroy's Bat (Myotis emarginatus): How Fast Do Young Bats Become Infested with Ectoparasites?", we collected ectoparasites manually using tweezers. During each inspection, the presence or absence of ectoparasites on pelage, ears, wings and tail membranes was recorded. In addition, in bats with grown fur, about 20-30 seconds were spent searching each bat for the ectoparasite by blowing the fur of bats.
Hope it helps.
It might be worth trying the collection vacs used for mosquito sampling, the small ones (eg. https://www.bioquip.com/search/DispProduct.asp?pid=2809B). Alternatively, use a conventional aspirator (eg. https://www.bioquip.com/search/DispProduct.asp?pid=1135K) with a syringe bulb (eg. https://www.bioquip.com/search/DispProduct.asp?pid=1135X) or HEPA filter (https://www.bioquip.com/search/DispProduct.asp?pid=1135Y) for safety. It might be quicker, but as you probably know, ectoparasites can cling to their host quite effectively and the best method will likely remain forceps...
Louwtjie Snyman It also occurred to me using a conventional aspirator as a very efficient solution. However, I wonder if it can be any health concerns for the person doing it? May the person aspirate pathogenic organisms from the bats' fur?
happy days, I'm glad to read this question from you. I know it's too late but I would suggest a method and you must try it first, because the little small size of bats some times.
The bat can be immersed in the water for a while, keeping its head out. This method was used by myself with some birds in the summer and should be dried after completion.
then you can centrifuge the water in a tube, and exam the sediment.
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