Gastrointestinal parasites of the Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius in Nagpur City: a seasonal study through faecal sample analysis

Abstract

The Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius, among the largest Indian fruit eating bats, is commonly observed with unhurried wing beats at dusk and tends to roost during the day in sizable, noisy colonies situated on trees within bustling towns and villages. Notably, these colonies are prevalent in busy areas of Nagpur city, particularly on expansive Banyan Trees Ficus bengalensis and Pangom Oil Trees Millettia pinnata, owing to the consistent availability of fruits and flowers throughout the year. This study focuses on evaluating gastrointestinal helminth infection in fruit-eating bats during the summer, monsoon, and winter seasons in Nagpur city, Maharashtra. A total of 58 samples were collected, processed, and examined using the double sedimentation technique. Of these, 46 samples (80.01%) tested positive for Ascaris spp. eggs, with a higher percentage during the monsoon season. Additionally, during the peak summer season, a juvenile flying fox from one of the colonies was rescued in a dehydrated state, displaying crusty scab-like lesions on the wing’s anterior and posterior regions. Subsequent examination revealed the presence of the ectoparasite Macronyssus spp. on body of the juvenile Indian Flying Fox.