VAMPIRES (CHIROPTERA: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE, DESMODUS ROTUNDUS) IN LIVESTOCK ENVIRONMENTS OF SOUTHEAST MEXICO: ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS POPULATION CONTROL
Population control of the vampire bat
Keywords:
Abundancia, rabia, tratamiento tópico, vampiricida, warfarinaAbstract
The main objective was to analyze and understand the importance of population control of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus in the state of Guerrero, as well as its abundance and number of cases positive for rabies virus. 2,620 organisms were captured, from 178 localities, belonging to 29 municipalities. Of the total, 2,482 were treated with Warfarin (95%), in 2017 the largest number of treatments was performed (n = 1,038). Sending 136 specimens to the laboratory, of the four were positive for the virus. We conclude that to date the bovine paralytic rabies campaign is an effective strategy, given that some strategies have not been generated to mitigate the problems that arise between this blood-sucking species and livestock farmers. It is also important to include awareness campaigns with the proposal of raising awareness of the importance of vaccination of livestock and the ecological function of other bat species.
