Guedes, Paulo Marcos da MattaSilva, Ana Clara Oliveira da2021-05-062021-05-062021-02-25SILVA, Ana Clara Oliveira da. Infecção por tripanossomatídeos em quirópteros capturados no município de Natal-RN. 2021. 103f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Biologia Parasitária) - Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2021.https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/32416Trypanosomatids are parasite protozoa belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family, which inhere Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum, etiologic parasites of Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis. Chiropterans are ancient and natural hosts of T. cruzi and L. infantum. However, the participation of bats in the epidemiological cycle of T. cruzi and L. infantum is still underestimated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the infection rate by trypanosomatids in chiropterans captured in the city of Natal-RN. Ninety-five bats were collected together with Zoonosis Control Center (CCZ) of Natal between 2019 and 2020, 50 animals from passive capture in urban areas and 45 obtained from active capture, using fog nets, in an environmental conservation area (Parque das Dunas) in the municipality of Natal-RN. Animals were identified, euthanized, and fragments of liver, spleen and skin were collected. DNA was extracted and PCR for T. cruzi kDNA and hsp70 which detects the Leishmania genus were performed. The species Artibeus planirostris was the most prevalent among bats captured in urban environments and Parque das Dunas, presented 95% and 56% of infection by Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi, respectively. The total rate of bats infection by T. cruzi, Leishmania spp., and co-infected T. cruzi/Leishmania spp. was 56% (53/95), 73% (69/95) and 41% (39/95), respectively. Leishmania spp. was detected into the skin of 55% (43/79) of animals evaluated. Animals captured in Parque das Dunas showed a higher infection rate by T. cruzi (67%) (p=0,0401), when compared to bats captured in the urban environment (46%). Sex and eating habits of chiropterans did not influence the infection rate by T. cruzi. Fruit-eating chiropterans (90%) had a higher rate of infection by Leishmania spp., when compared to insectivores (65%) (p=0,0067) and nectarivores (33%) (p=0,0005). On the other hand, sex (p> 0.9999) and place of capture (urban vs. Parque das Dunas) (p = 0.3587) did not influence the infection rate by Leishmania spp. Our results demonstrate a high infection rate by trypanosomatids in chiropterans captured in the city of Natal-RN, indicating that they could participate in the epidemiological transmission cycle of Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi.Acesso AbertoQuirópterosLeishmaniaTrypanosoma cruziTripanossomatídeosmasterThesis