Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
Bats are currently threatened by increasing natural and anthropogenic activities necessitating efforts to conserve them worldwide. The present study evaluated the field body weight, body condition index, hepatosomatic index and histopathological alterations observed in some vital organs of the free-tailed bat (Chaerephon nigeriae) in Paiko, Niger State, North-Central Nigeria. Fifty-eight free-tailed bats of both sexes were used for the study. Body weight, forearm length, body condition factor, liver weight, hepatosomatic index and histopathological alterations in some vital organs were evaluated following standard procedures. Results showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the sexes in the evaluated histomorphometric indices. There was a positive and significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the body weight of the bats and their forearm length, body condition index and liver weight. Also, there was a positive and significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the forearm length of the bats and their body condition index, liver weight and hepatosomatic index. Histopathological changes were observed mainly in the lungs, followed by the liver and kidneys. The lungs of majority of the bats (> 84%) showed marked pulmonary haemorrhages and thickened inter-alveoli septa with monocellular cellular infiltrates, while the lungs of only 27.6% of the bats had pulmonary oedema. Multiple hepatic vacuolation were observed in 82.8% of the bats, but only 13.8% exhibited hepatic congestion. Multiple renal tubular necrosis was recorded in 31.0% of the bats and only 10.4% exhibited renal interstitial haemorrhages. It was concluded that there were no sex-based differences in the morphometry of body weight, forearm length, body condition index, liver weight and hepatosomatic index, and that histopathologic lesions in the bat were found majorly in the lungs.

Keywords: Nigerian free-tailed bat; Chaerephon nigeriae; Morphometry; Body condition index; Hepatosomatic index; Histopathology.

How to cite this article:
Abalaka SE and Ejeh SA (2025). Morphometry, body condition index, organosomatic indices, and histopathological lesions observed in some vital organs of the Nigerian free-
tailed bat (Chaerephon nigeriae) in Paiko, North-Central Nigeria. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 15(1): 948 – 958.

*Correspondence: E-mail: samson.abalaka@uniabuja,edu,ng Phone: +2348037863462