A tour for the capture and control of hematophagous bats was organized by the Technical Secretariat, in coordination with the National Directorate of Animal Health and Region # 5 of West Panama, of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), on the farm of producers Eduardo and Manuel Jiménez, in the community of El Arenal, corregimiento El Guayabito, district of San Carlos, province of Panamá Oeste.
In this activity, 13 hematophagous bats, 7 males and 6 females, of the also known vampire bat, transmitter of wild rabies, causing the death of livestock, were captured.
Wild rabies is a disease that affects the nervous system of all warm-blooded animals, including people.
Youssef Sayad, Technical Undersecretary of MIDA, said that the objective of informing the productive sector of prevention and control measures on this issue, developed by the agricultural institution, led by Minister Augusto Valderrama, was fulfilled.
He added that the activity also served to work as a team and strengthen the relationship between producers and MIDA, on this occasion, represented by the Technical Secretariat, the West Panama Regional Office and the National Directorate of Animal Health.
The veterinarian Erwing Troudart Luna gave the details of the procedure for capturing the bats, the repercussions of the disease and the epidemiological surveillance that they maintain in the region for the control and prevention of wild rabies.
The capture is done through special meshes that are placed on the farms and once the bats are trapped, a treatment is applied, then they are released so that they can return to their colonies. For every vampire treated, ten are eliminated.
Vaccination is one of the most effective preventive measures to control rabies, which is why MIDA veterinarians ask producers to be aware that their animals are vaccinated.
Eduardo Jiménez, owner of the farm, was grateful for the visit of the MIDA, for the interest in informing him to protect his herd from diseases and for the capture of hematophagous bats, which is carried out at night.
He stressed that the bites of the vampires produce weakness in their animals, lack of appetite and often worsen their weight. Also, they can be infected with bovine rabies.
The Regional Director of Western Panama, Raquildo Domíguez, stressed that MIDA works hand in hand with the producer and that each of the six agencies of the sector it represents carries out these operations to reduce the risk of animals being infected with this disease.
He also urged the producers to visit the MIDA agencies so that they are included in the visits to the farms and producers.
Of the 1100 species of bats discovered so far belonging to 6 food guilds (Insectivorous, Ichthyophagous, Frugivorous, Hematophagous, Nectarivorous and Omnivorous) only 3 are hematophagous and they are the ones that generate the greatest problem for human settlements.
