Bats (Chiroptera) as Vectors of Diseases and Parasites

This book gathers contributions by 16 international authors on the phenomenon bats shedding some light on their morphology, on the feeding behaviors (insects, fruits, blood) of different groups of bats, on their potential and confirmed transmissions of agents of diseases, and on their own endo- and ectoparasites, as well as on the countless myths surrounding their lifestyle (e.g. vampirism, chupacabras, batman etc.).§Bats have been known in different cultures for several thousand centuries, however, their nocturnal activities have made them mysterious and led to many legends and myths, while proven facts remained scarce. Even today, our knowledge of bats remains limited compared to other groups in the animal world. Also their famous ability to avoid collisions with obstacles during their nightly flights with the help of a sophisticated and unique system using ultrasound waves (which are transmitted and received) is as poorly studied as how birds find their way on their trips from continent to continent. In recent times, where globalization transports millions of people and containers from one end of the earth to the other every day, there are increased risks posed by agents of diseases, as a result of which bats have received increasing attention as potential vectors. These suppositions are based on their proven transmission of viruses such as rabies.§In dedicated chapters, the book addresses the following topics: The world of bats The astonishing morphology of bats Bats as potential reservoir hosts for vector-borne diseases Bat endoparasites Macroparasites ectoparasites Glimpses into how bats fly Blood-licking bats Vampirism in medicine and culture Chupacabras and goat milkers Myths on candiru§As such, this book provides a broad range of information for all non-experts interested in biological topics, but also for people working in this field, for physicians and veterinarians who are confronted with clinical cases, and for teachers and students interested in expanding their knowledge of biology and of past and present cultures.