Title

Possible causes of hair loss in captive Dermanura tolteca bats

Alternative Title

Posibles causas de la pérdida de pelo en murciélagos Dermanura tolteca en cautiverio

Creator

Jayden Robert

Files

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