A Survey of Haemoparasites of Bats in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Bats carry various protozoan blood parasites that could potentially be transmitted to humans, making it important to identify these parasites in order to implement effective public health strategies. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023 to determine the haemoparasite of bats in six (6) selected areas in Lafia. Standard mist net of 12m and 20m set at ground level were used over 12 non-consecutive nights from 6:15 to 10 pm. Two hundred and three (203) bats were trapped, belonging to five species of four families: Tadarida brasiliensis, Eidolon helvum, Afronycteris nanus, Scotophilus leucogaster, and Rhinolopus landeri. A thick and thin blood smear was used to detect the blood parasites of bats. Of the 203 bats examined, 52.21% infection was recorded. Plasmodium spp (67.0%), Babesia (23.6%), Litomosoides microfilaria spp (6.6%), Trypanosoma spp (2.8%). Of the six locations sampled, Bukan Kwato recorded the highest prevalence (29.25%), Gimare had the least prevalence (4.72%). Differences in the prevalence of haemoparasites in bats in relation to locations showed a very high variation (χ2=22.826, df = 5, P-value = 0.0003645). Females had a higher prevalence (53.77%) than males (46.23%) and no variation (χ2=0.56852, df = 1, P-value = 0.4508). Species prevalence shows Tadarida brasiliensis with the highest prevalence (63.21%), Eidolon helvum (16.04%), Scotophilus leucogaster (8.49%), Afronycteris nanus (6.60%), and Rhinolophus landeri (5.66%) and there was a significance difference (χ2=120.02, df = 4, P < 0.0001). The study has established an update on the haemoparasites of bats in the Lafia metropolis. Further studies be conducted on related species identification to have more knowledge of haemoparasites of bats.