Gastrointestinal Parasites of Zoonotic Importance Detected in Bats in the Conservation Area of Semuliki National Park, Western Uganda.

Abstract

Bat guano may contain zoonotic parasites that contaminate the environment and/or serve as a potential source of infection to humans and animals. Repeated bat-human exposure could be a risk factor for zoonosis. To date, knowledge on the status of bat gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in Uganda is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of bat GIP species in communities contiguous to Semuliki National Park (SNP), Bundibugyo district in western Uganda. We purposively collected faecal samples of micro- (<i>n</i> = 242) and megabats (<i>n</i> = 242) from bat roosts in communities contiguous to SNP during the rainy months of October to December 2023 and the dry months of January to March 2024. Standard faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques were used for laboratory examination. Microscopic examination revealed that 224 (46%) samples tested positive for more than one parasite species. Thirteen GIPs, including protozoa (<i>n</i> = 3), trematode (<i>n</i> = 1), cestode (<i>n</i> = 1) and nematodes (<i>n</i> = 8), were detected. The most prevalent parasites were <i>Entamoeba coli</i> (57%), hookworm (33%), <i>Strongyloides</i> sp. (33%) and <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> (32%), and the least prevalent were the two unidentified nematodes (1%). Seventy-seven percent (<i>n</i> = 10) of the detected GIPs are responsible for zoonosis and are of significant public health importance. Statistically, there was a significant difference (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the overall parasite prevalence across the four studied bat groups. Also, parasite prevalence was significantly higher in microbats compared to megabats (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and in Burondo subcounty compared to Ntandi town council (<i>p</i> < 0.05), though seasonality did not have a significant impact. The detected zoonotic parasites pose a potential source of zoonosis in communities contiguous to the conservation area of SNP, Uganda. This calls for awareness creation on the risks of bat-mediated zoonotic parasitosis and the use of good sanitary practices to prevent chances of zoonotic parasite spillover from bats to humans.