Babesia vesperuginis in common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and the bat soft tick Argas vespertilionis in the People’s Republic of China

Abstract

Babesia vesperuginis was molecularly detected in 10% (5/48) of common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in Shihezi City, Northwestern China. Interestingly, four bat ticks (Argas vespertilionis), from Babesia DNA-positive common pipistrelle bats, were also positive for B. vesperuginis. Our findings extend the geographic range of the common pipistrelle bat as a reservoir of B. vesperuginis in Asia.