Commensal and pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory tract of bats from Catalonia, North-Eastern Spain
Pasetto, Carlotta (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Lobato-Bailón, Lourdes (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Puig Ribas, Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Aragón, Virginia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal)
Guixé, David (Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC))
Caparroz Soto, Noel (Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC))
Camprodon, Jordi (Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC))
Martino, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Domingo, Mariano (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Obón, Elena (Centre de Fauna Salvatge de Torreferrussa (Santa Perpètua de la Mogoda, Catalunya))
Molina López, Rafael (Centre de Fauna Salvatge de Torreferrussa (Santa Perpètua de la Mogoda, Catalunya))
Fernández Aguilar, Xavier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal)
Cabezón Ponsoda, Óscar (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Bats host a diverse range of commensal and potentially pathogenic microorganisms, yet bacterial infections remain underrepresented in bat health research. This study investigated the diversity of bacteria of the respiratory tract in bats from Catalonia, North-Eastern Spain, including free-ranging individuals and those admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected and processed for microbiological analysis from 182 apparently healthy bats belonging to 14 species, and from 28 bats admitted to the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Additionally, necropsy, microbiological and histopathological investigation were performed on 30 deceased individuals. A total of 394 bacterial isolates were recovered and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, selected strains were further characterized by ERIC-PCR and phylogenetic analysis. The genus Vespertiliibacter, within the Pasteurellaceae family, was the most detected in apparently healthy bats and was significantly more prevalent in this group (59. 3%) than in rehabilitated bats (35. 7%, p = 0. 024). By contrast, Pasteurella multocida subsp. septica was only identified in two cases of fatal pneumonia and sepsis in Pipistrellus kuhlii. Enterobacteriaceae were significantly more prevalent in rehabilitated bats (46. 4%) than in free-ranging individuals (10. 4%, p < 0. 001). These findings expand current knowledge on the upper respiratory microbiota of bats, support the role of P. multocida as a primary pathogen in this group, and highlight the presence of bacterial species of potential clinical relevance for bat health.
Grants:	Generalitat de Catalunya 2023 FI-3 00065 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación RYC2022-036927-I Generalitat de Catalunya 2020PANDE00028
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Bats ; Bacteria ; Oropharyngeal bacteria ; Vespertiliibacter ; Pasteurella multocida ; Pneumonia
Published in:	Veterinary microbiology, Vol. 317 (June 2026) , art. 111010, ISSN 1873-2542

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.111010

9 p, 3.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA)
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Research group Wildlife Ecology & Health
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles