Zoonotic bacteria and vector-borne protozoa in troglophilus bat colonies in Sicily (Southern Italy): a biomolecular survey

Bats, belonging to the order Chiroptera, play a significant ecological role, occupying a high position in the food chain and are specialized in using different types of habitats. Bats, like other taxa, can also act as natural reservoirs and carriers of numerous zoonotic bacteria and viruses, often remaining immune to the pathogens they harbor. Human-bat interactions can be frequent in some geographical areas, primarily driven by anthropogenic modifications to their habitats, leading bats to seek alternative roosting sites even though interaction with other animals is not direct due to the different niches frequented. Understanding the pathogens harbored by bats can be important for public health, given the potential risks associated with such interactions. This study aimed to investigate the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens across different anatomical niches of insectivorous troglophilus bats roosting in colonies in some caves within the Ragusa and Syracuse provinces of Sicily, Italy