Microplastic contamination in Amazon Vampire Bats (Desmodontinae: Phyllostomidae)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are polymers smaller than five millimeters, are easily dispersed, and are considered a contaminant of emerging concern. The objective was to quantify and characterize, both by color and shape, the presence of MPs in the stomach, intestine, and lungs of vampire bats, analyzing the difference between organs and their morphometric measurements in relation to the abundance of MPs found in each organ. The bats were collected between 2017 and 2021. In the laboratory, the specimens were euthanized, and the organs of interest were extracted. After removal, the organs were chemically dissolved and then filtered through a suitable membrane. The membranes were inspected through visual analysis of the samples. Our result was significant, we found at least one MP in each organ analyzed, with all individuals being contaminated with particles only in fiber format, mostly white/transparent. The gastrointestinal system had greater contamination compared to the respiratory system. It is not yet known for sure how the ingestion of plastic waste has affected this population of bats, but the presence of plastic waste in the gastrointestinal tract of hematophagous individuals proves the effectiveness of the contagion of these particles.