Crónica sobre los métodos de control del murciélago vampiro común (Desmodus rotundus)

Abstract

The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is a bat of the family Phyllostomidae, subfamily Desmodontinae that inhabits the tropical and subtropical regions of Latin America. It feeds exclusively on blood and is the vector of bovine paralytic rabies, a disease that causes significant economic losses in livestock farming. D. rotundus populations increased after the introduction of European cattle to the Americas by colonizers, as these represented an abundant and easily accessible food source for these bats. With the increase in D. rotundus populations, cases of bovine paralytic rabies consequently increased. In the 1970s, studies began in Mexico to control D. rotundus populations, leading to several methods based on anticoagulant poisoning. This method has been used in Latin America for over 50 years. However, current studies have shown that the use of chemical anticoagulants has not reduced cases of bovine paralytic rabies; on the contrary, they have increased and spread geographically. This review analyzes the traditional methods used to control D. rotundus populations, discusses their effectiveness, and proposes alternative research approaches that could help solve the problem while limiting the use of lethal methods.