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Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Alternative Title
Posibles causas de la pérdida de pelo en murciélagos Dermanura tolteca en cautiverio
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Publication Date
May 2016
Abstract
Captive animal habitats often differ greatly from natural environments. These differences have the potential to introduce health concerns that are otherwise absent in the wild. A prime example of this is the hair loss of Dermanura tolteca bats in The Bat Jungle in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This study investigates this hair loss and aims to contribute to the understudied veterinary and captive care of bats. From each study subject, I took handling observations, a hair sample, a bacterial swab, and a skin scrape. I used these samples to examine reproductive hormones, seasonal molting, social overgrooming, self-‐removal, hair follicle mites, ectoparasites, fungal infection, and bacterial infection as potential causes of the hair loss. The results of the study reveal a strong association between higher fungal infection and captivity that is likely to be a contributing factor to the hair loss. There was evidence against all other investigated causes as possible explanations for the hair loss. Taking measures to treat and prevent fungal growth can greatly improve the health of these bats and allow for better understanding of captive bat care. Los ambientes de los animals en cautiverio a menudo difieren much de los ambientes naturales. Tales diferencias pueden siginificar problemas sanitarios. Un ejemplo puede ser la pérdida de pelo de murciélagos Dermanura tolteca en cautiverio en la exhibición “Bat Jungle” en Monteverde Costa Rica. Este studio investiga la studio investiga la pérdida de pelo y trata de contribuir al entenimiento y cuidado veterinario de los murciélagos en cautiverio. Yo examine murciélagos en cautiverio y en vida libre. De cada individuo recolecté muestras de pelo, hisopados y raspados de piel. Utilicé tales muestras para examiner hormonas reproductivas, muda de piel, evaluar sobre acicalamiento y auto remoción de pelo, ácaros en folículos pilosos, ectoparásitos, infeciones por hongos así como infecciones bacterianas, como causas potenciales de La pérdida del pelo. Los resultados indicant mayor asociación entre infección por hongos y cautiverio como factor que contribuye a la pérdida de pelo. Encontré evidencia en contra de las otras causas investigadas como explicaciones a éste problema. Se deben adopter medidas para tartar y prevenir el crecimiento de hongos y así mejorar la salud delos murciélagos en cautiverio.
Keywords
Captive bats, Murciélagos en cautividad, The Bat Jungle (Costa Rica), Murciélago de la Selva (Costa Rica), Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone--Monteverde, Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde--Monteverde, EAP Spring 2016, EAP Primavera 2016
Description
Student affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology University of California, Berkeley
Subject: topical
Captive bats; Murciélagos en cautividad; The Bat Jungle (Costa Rica); Murciélago de la Selva (Costa Rica); Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone--Monteverde; Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde--Monteverde; EAP Spring 2016; EAP Primavera 2016
Holding Location
|Monteverde Institute MVI
Identifier
M39-00574
Recommended Citation
Robert, Jayden, "Possible causes of hair loss in captive Dermanura tolteca bats" (2016). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 638.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/638
