The natural interaction between Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821) and its trematodes: A histopathological analysis

Bats have a wide diversity of digeneans; however, even with the recent increased interest in studies of parasites on these hosts, there are no data on the microscopic alterations of this host-parasite interaction. The present work characterizes and compares the histological aspects of the liver, gallbladder, and intestine of non-parasitized and parasitized Myotis nigricans by digeneans. Ten specimens of Myotis nigricans collected in an urban area of Western Amazonia were analyzed for parasites. The digeneans were removed from the hosts and identified. Tissue samples of the liver, gallbladder, and intestines of parasitized and non-parasitized hosts were collected for histological studies. The gallbladder was observed in repletion and presents mucosa formed by simple epithelium that varies from cubic to cylindrical. The hepatic lobes do not have a classic polyhedral-hexagonal aspect. Variations in basophilia, acidophile, and cytoplasmatic granulations were observed in hepatocytes. The parasitism of the intestinal digeneans was restricted to space delimited by the extensions of villi in high association with the intestinal epithelium, not invading the region of the intestinal glands at the base of the villi. Trematodes maintained attached to the villus by the oral sucker and acetabulum, connected by a "pleat" composed of epithelium and lamina propria layers. We observed no signs of inflammatory processes and cellular defense infiltrates in host tissues. Cytochemistry alterations, size variation, and granular deposits in hepatocytes, enterocytes, and goblet cells were observed. Thus, this report is the first study of the natural parasite-host interaction in the liver, gallbladder, and intestine in M. nigricans in the neotropical region.