Three new host species of Plagiorchis micracanthos (Macy, 1931) (Trematodes: Plagorchiidae) among North American bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Abstract

We report new records of the trematode, Plagiorchis micracanthos from three North American bats. For the first time, the parasite is reported to occur in the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), California myotis (Myotis californicus) and the pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus). The western small-footed bat (Myotis ciliolabrum), little brown bat (M. lucifugus) and the western pipistrelle (Parastellus hesperus) are confirmed as host species. The trematodes were isolated from the small intestines of the host individuals. For the first time, we identified P. micracanthos in bats originating from Canada and Mexico. The results presented here suggest that the trematode P. micracanthos has a much larger host range and geographic distribution than previously recognised. It is likely that further studies will confirm this results and extent both host and geographic ranges even further.