RENAL COCCIDIOSIS WITH CYSTIC TUBULAR DILATATION IN 4 BATS

Renal coccidiosis was diagnosed in four bats of different species (Pip istrellus pipistrellus, Myotis mystacinus, M, nattereri, and Nyctalus noctula). Multiple white and partly indented foci up to 2 mm in diamet er were visible on the renal surface. Histologically, the foci appeare d as cystic dilated tubules with proliferated epithelium. Asexual and sexual coccidian stages were seen in the epithelial cells, and the ext remely distended tubular lumina were filled with schizonts, free zoite s, microgamonts, macrogamonts, and unsporulated oocysts. Because the m ajority of the renal tissue appeared uninvolved in the disease process at the gross and histologic levels and there was no evidence for urem ia in other organs, renal function was probably not impaired. Precise classification of the coccidia was impossible because no sporulated oo cysts were available. The parasite morphology and the hitherto unrepor ted cystic dilatation of infected tubules containing all developmental stages differ from renal coccidioses reported previously and therefor e suggest an undescribed coccidian species.