Helminth parasites of the whiskered brown bat, myotis aurescens (Kuzyakin, 1935) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Turkey

Abstract

Fifteen individuals of Myotis aurescens (six females, nine males) from Bursa Province, Turkey, were examined for helminths and found to harbour six species of Digenea (Prosthodendrium ascidia, Pr. longiforme, Lecithodendrium linstowi, Plagiorchis muelleri, P vespertilionis and P. koreanus) and one species of Nematoda (Rictularia lucifugus). Prosthodendrium ascidia was found in all host specimens and had the highest mean intensity per bat as well as abundance. This is the first helminth record of Myotis aurescens from Turkey. Myotis aurescens represents a new host record for all the parasite species. Prosthodendrium ascidia, L. linstowi, P. muelleri, P. koreanus, R. lucifugus are reported from Turkey for the first time.