Babesia vesperuginis in Common Pipistrelle ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and the Bat Soft Tick Argas vespertilionis in the People's Republic of China

J Wildl Dis. 2018 Apr;54(2):419-421. doi: 10.7589/2017-08-206. Epub 2018 Jan 29.

Abstract

Babesia vesperuginis was molecularly detected in 10% (5/48) of common pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in Shihezi City, Northwestern China. Interestingly, four bat ticks ( Argas vespertilionis), from Babesia DNA-positive common pipistrelle bats, were also positive for B. vesperuginis. Our findings extend the geographic range of the common pipistrelle bat as a reservoir of B. vesperuginis in Asia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Argas*
  • Babesia / isolation & purification*
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Chiroptera / parasitology*
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
  • Tick Infestations / parasitology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary*