Veterinary treatment of evening bats (Vespertilionidae) in the Czech Republic

THERE has been a growing interest in research on and con-servation of bats throughout the world (Fenton 1997). Bats are frequently presented for veterinary attention and treat-ment (Routh 1991, 2003), but data on infectious agents other than the European bat lyssaviruses (Fooks and others 2003) are sparse or lacking, and even less information concerning non-infectious or miscellaneous disorders of bats is available. This short communication describes experience with the vet-erinary care of vespertilionid bats, with special attention to the prevalence of miscellaneous disorders and problems of their management in captivity.A total of 76 vespertilionid bats were examined and treated at a veterinary clinic in Prague in 2003 and 2004 (Table 1). The bats were found either exhausted or injured during late autumn and early spring. They were collected individually, around roosting sites or near human habitations, and one whole colony (42 noctule bats) (