Isolation of Candida species from bats in Nigeria.

Eighteen (15%) of 120 Nigerian bats screened for fungal infections yielded yeasts of medical importance from their visceral organs. Candida albicans was the commonest organism recovered from the liver, spleen, kidneys and intestinal contents 1 of 10 out of 40 Glossophaga soricinia bats (nectar-feeding bats). Candida krusei was recovered from the liver and spleen of 3 out of 50 Molossus maior bats (the tropical house bat). Five out of 30 lesser free-tailed bats (Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei) yielded mixed isolates of Trichosporon cutaneum and Candida spp. from their liver and spleen. Only Glossophaga soricinia showed evidence of infection of the organs. The liver, spleen and kidneys were covered by white patches of yeast colonies.