Leishmaniasis are protozoonosis caused by different Leishmania species. The role of some wild mammal's species in the epidemiology of these diseases is not well known. A few studies point to chiropteran as possible hosts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Leishmania spp. infection in Desmodus rotundus (vampire bat). Molecular methods capable of amplifying the DNA of Leishmania were used to evaluate one hundred chiropters from this species. In 16% of the samples, the DNA of Leishmania sp. was detected through PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), in the trial stage. However, the result was not repeated when evaluated through Real Time PCR, which suggested the occurrence of prior sample contamination. In spite of this result, some behavioral and biological aspects of D. rotundus suggest that they, in a similar vein to other bat species, are potential hosts for these protozoans.
bat; Leishmania; PCR; wild animals; zoonosis