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Updated: Nov 20, 2025
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Tissue Collection of Bats for -Omics Analyses and Primary Cell Culture
Published on: October 23, 2019
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RENAL NEOPLASIA FROM A SINGLE POPULATION OF PTEROPODID BATS
Alison J Flanders1, Lisa L Farina1, Anna Szivek2
1Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126.
Summary
Primary kidney cancers, including renal cell carcinoma and nephroblastoma, were identified in flying foxes (Pteropodidae). One bat with renal cell carcinoma was successfully treated with surgery.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Comparative Oncology
- Chiropteran Biology
Background:
- Neoplastic diseases are rare in the Pteropodidae family.
- Primary malignant renal neoplasms are uncommon in most animal species.
Observation:
- This case series details four instances of primary renal neoplasia in pteropodid bats.
- Three cases were renal cell carcinomas, and one was a nephroblastoma.
- The affected species included large flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus), straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), and little golden-mantled flying foxes (Pteropus pumilus).
Findings:
- Two cases were diagnosed antemortem via ultrasonography, computed tomography, and cytology.
- One bat with renal cell carcinoma underwent successful unilateral nephrectomy.
- The remaining two cases were diagnosed postmortem during necropsy.
Implications:
- This study highlights the occurrence of primary kidney cancers in flying foxes.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may be viable treatment options for renal neoplasms in these animals.
- Further research into chiropteran oncology is warranted.
