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retinal ganglion cell topography and spatial resolving power in echolocating and non-echolocating bats.bats are nocturnal mammals known for their ability to echolocate, yet all bats can see, and most bats of the family pteropodidae (fruit bats) do not echolocate - instead they rely mainly on vision and olfaction to forage. we investigated whether echolocating bats, given their limited reliance on vision, have poorer spatial resolving power (srp) than pteropodids and whether tongue click echolocating fruit bats differ from non-echolocating fruit bats in terms of visual performance. we compared the ...202032818939
serological survey of lyssaviruses in polish bats in the frame of passive rabies surveillance using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.background: bats are known to host a number of nonpathogenic viruses, as well as highly pathogenic viruses causing fatal diseases like rabies. serological surveys as part of active and passive bat rabies surveillance mainly use seroneutralization assays, demonstrating the presence of lyssavirus-specific antibodies in a variety of european bats, particularly against european bat lyssaviruses type 1 (eblv-1). here, we present the first serological survey in european bats of this kind during which ...202032121200
the sonar beam of macrophyllum macrophyllum implies ecological adaptation under phylogenetic constraint.all animals are adapted to their ecology within the bounds of their evolutionary heritage. echolocating bats clearly show such adaptations and boundaries through their biosonar call design. adaptations include not only the overall time-frequency structure, but also the shape of the emitted echolocation beam. macrophyllum macrophyllum is unique within the phyllostomid family, being the only species to predominantly hunt for insects in the open, on or above water, and as such it presents an intere ...202032398318
phenology of reproductive condition varies with age and spring weather conditions in male myotis daubentonii and m. nattereri (chiroptera: vespertilionidae).we examine the extent to which intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence reproductive phenology in male bats at the population level. using data from thirteen breeding seasons (2006-2018), encompassing the reproductive histories of 1546 myotis daubentonii and 530 m. nattereri males, we compare rates of sexual maturation and the temporal distribution of phases of spermatogenesis between juvenile (born that season) and adult (born in previous seasons) males. we found that (i) higher proportions of ...202032313091
between roost contact is essential for maintenance of european bat lyssavirus type-2 in myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: 'the swarming hypothesis'.many high-consequence human and animal pathogens persist in wildlife reservoirs. an understanding of the dynamics of these pathogens in their reservoir hosts is crucial to inform the risk of spill-over events, yet our understanding of these dynamics is frequently insufficient. viral persistence in a wild bat population was investigated by combining empirical data and in-silico analyses to test hypotheses on mechanisms for viral persistence. a fatal zoonotic virus, european bat lyssavirus type 2 ...202032015375
differences in seasonal survival suggest species-specific reactions to climate change in two sympatric bat species.long-lived animals with a low annual reproductive output need a long time to recover from population crashes and are, thus, likely to face high extinction risk, if the current global environmental change will increase mortality rates. to aid conservation of those species, knowledge on the variability of mortality rates is essential. unfortunately, however, individual-based multiyear data sets that are required for that have only rarely been collected for free-ranging long-lived mammals. here, we ...201931380063
erratum for hokynar et al., "molecular evidence of chlamydia-like organisms in the feces of myotis daubentonii bats". 201930902824
live fast, don't die young: survival-reproduction trade-offs in long-lived income breeders.trade-offs between survival and reproduction are at the core of life-history theory, and essential to understanding the evolution of reproductive tactics as well as population dynamics and stability. factors influencing these trade-offs are multiple and often addressed in isolation. further problems arise as reproductive states and survival in wild populations are estimated based on imperfect and potentially biased observation processes, which might lead to flawed conclusions. in this study, we ...201930737781
effect of sex and reproductive status on the immunity of the temperate bat myotis daubentonii.studies of immunity in bat species are rare. however, it is important to determine immunological variations to identify factors influencing the health status of these endangered mammals from an evolutionary, ecological, conservation, and public health point of view. immunity is highly variable and can be influenced by both internal (e.g. hormone levels, energy demand) and external factors (e.g. pathogens, climate). as bats have some peculiar ecological, energetic, and putative immunological char ...201932218715
metal and metalloid exposure and oxidative status in free-living individuals of myotis daubentonii.metal elements, ubiquitous in the environment, can cause negative effects in long-lived organisms even after low but prolonged exposure. insectivorous bats living near metal emission sources can be vulnerable to such contaminants. although it is known that bats can bioaccumulate metals, little information exists on the effects of metal elements on their physiological status. for example, oxidative status markers are known to vary after detoxification processes and immune reactions. here, for two ...201930439584
frequent or scarce? damage to flight-enabling body parts in bats (chiroptera).bat wings are characterized by high endurance, and these mammals have developed a number of adaptations that protect them from falling into obstacles and potential injuries. however, in bat populations, there are individuals with visible fresh or healed injuries to the flight-enabling body parts. the aim of this research was to determine the differences in the occurrence of wing membrane damages among species of bats that differ in ecology and behavior. the study was conducted in southern and we ...201931329631
virus- and interferon alpha-induced transcriptomes of cells from the microbat myotis daubentonii.antiviral interferons (ifn-alpha/beta) are possibly responsible for the high tolerance of bats to zoonotic viruses. previous studies focused on the ifn system of megabats (suborder yinpterochiroptera). we present statistically robust rna sequencing (rna-seq) data on transcriptomes of cells from the "microbat" myotis daubentonii (suborder yangochiroptera) responding at 6 and 24 h to either an ifn-inducing virus or treatment with ifn. our data reveal genes triggered only by virus, either in both h ...201931465999
artificial illumination near rivers may alter bat-insect trophic interactions.artificial illumination at night represents an increasingly concerning threat to ecosystems worldwide, altering persistence, behaviour, physiology and fitness of many organisms and their mutual interactions, in the long-term affecting ecosystem functioning. bats are very sensitive to artificial light at night because they are obligate nocturnal and feed on insects which are often also responsive to lights. here we tested the effects of led lighting on prey-predator interactions at riverine ecosy ...201931284209
habitat usage of daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii), common pipistrelle (pipistrellus pipistrellus), and soprano pipistrelle (pipistrellus pygmaeus) in a north wales upland river catchment.distributions of daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii), common pipistrelle, (pipistrellus pipistrellus), and soprano pipistrelle (pipistrellus pygmaeus) were investigated along and altitudinal gradient of the lledr river, conwy, north wales, and presence assessed in relation to the water surface condition, presence/absence of bank-side trees, and elevation. ultrasound recordings of bats made on timed transects in summer 1999 were used to quantify habitat usage. all species significantly preferred ...201931031948
genetic diversity of the yokose virus, xybx1332, isolated from bats (myotis daubentonii) in china.yokose virus was first isolated from bats (miniopterus fuliginosus) collected in yokosuka, japan, in 1971, and is a new member of the family flaviviridae, genus flavivirus. in this study, we isolated a yokose virus from a serum sample of myotis daubentonii (order chiroptera, family vespertilionidae) collected in yunnan province, china in 2013.201930634973
detection and characterization of distinct alphacoronaviruses in five different bat species in denmark.bat populations harbour a multitude of viruses; some of these are pathogenic or potentially pathogenic in other animals or humans. therefore, it is important to monitor the populations and characterize these viruses. in this study, the presence of coronaviruses (covs) in different species of danish bats was investigated using active surveillance at different geographical locations in denmark. faecal samples were screened for the presence of covs using pan-cov real-time rt-pcr assays. the amplico ...201830208582
molecular epidemiology and evolution of european bat lyssavirus 2.bat rabies cases in europe are mainly attributed to two lyssaviruses, namely european bat lyssavirus 1 (eblv-1) and european bat lyssavirus 2 (eblv-2). prior to the death of a bat worker in finland in 1985, very few bat rabies cases were reported. enhanced surveillance in the two subsequent years (1986-1987) identified 263 cases (more than a fifth of all reported cases to date). between 1977 and 2016, 1183 cases of bat rabies were reported, with the vast majority (>97%) being attributed to eblv- ...201829303971
flight in ground effect dramatically reduces aerodynamic costs in bats.most flying animals, from insects to seabirds [1], perform flights close to ground or water when taking off or landing [2], drinking, and feeding [3-5] or when traveling near water surfaces [1, 6, 7]. when flying close to a surface within approximately one wingspan, the surface acts as an aerodynamic mirror, interrupting the downwash [8, 9], resulting in increased pressure underneath the wing and suppression of wingtip vortex development [10]. this aerodynamic interaction lowers the energy added ...201830344122
no effect of artificial light of different colors on commuting daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii) in a choice experiment.progressive illumination at night poses an increasing threat to species worldwide. light at night is particularly problematic for bats as most species are nocturnal and often cross relatively large distances when commuting between roosts and foraging grounds. earlier studies have shown that illumination of linear structures in the landscape disturbs commuting bats, and that the response of bats to light may strongly depend on the light spectrum. here, we studied the impact of white, green, and r ...201829808964
spring weather conditions influence breeding phenology and reproductive success in sympatric bat populations.climate is known to influence breeding phenology and reproductive success in temperate-zone bats, but long-term population level studies and interspecific comparisons are rare. investigating the extent to which intrinsic (i.e. age), and extrinsic (i.e. spring weather conditions), factors influence such key demographic parameters as the proportion of females becoming pregnant, or completing lactation, each breeding season, is vital to understanding of bat population ecology and life-history trait ...201829635800
mercury in fur of daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) in southern sweden and comparison to ecotoxicological thresholds.to characterise mercury (hg) exposure in daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii, kuhl 1817) in southern sweden, 17 specimens were captured in 2013 and back fur samples were taken for analysis to determine hg concentrations. the fur hg levels determined [1.15 ± 0.27 (mean ± standard deviation, n = 17) µg hg g-1 fresh weight (fw)] represent a baseline for comparison in future assessments of hg exposure in bat populations in northern europe. mercury concentrations were close to those reported in fur f ...201729128886
second case of european bat lyssavirus type 2 detected in a daubenton's bat in finland.european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) was detected in finland in a daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) found in the municipality of inkoo (60°02'45″n, 024°00'20″e). the bat showed neurological signs and was later found dead. the laboratory analysis revealed the presence of lyssavirus, and the virus was characterized as eblv-2. this isolation of eblv-2 was the second time that the virus has been detected in a daubenton's bat in finland. this provides additional proof that eblv-2 is endemic in ...201728946904
parasites of parasites of bats: laboulbeniales (fungi: ascomycota) on bat flies (diptera: nycteribiidae) in central europe.bat flies (streblidae and nycteribiidae) are among the most specialized families of the order diptera. members of these two related families have an obligate ectoparasitic lifestyle on bats, and they are known disease vectors for their hosts. however, bat flies have their own ectoparasites: fungi of the order laboulbeniales. in europe, members of the nycteribiidae are parasitized by four species belonging to the genus arthrorhynchus. we carried out a systematic survey of the distribution and fun ...201728222795
white-nose syndrome pathology grading in nearctic and palearctic bats.while white-nose syndrome (wns) has decimated hibernating bat populations in the nearctic, species from the palearctic appear to cope better with the fungal skin infection causing wns. this has encouraged multiple hypotheses on the mechanisms leading to differential survival of species exposed to the same pathogen. to facilitate intercontinental comparisons, we proposed a novel pathogenesis-based grading scheme consistent with wns diagnosis histopathology criteria. uv light-guided collection was ...201728767673
passive surveillance of united kingdom bats for lyssaviruses (2005-2015).passive surveillance for lyssaviruses in uk bats has been ongoing since 1987 and has identified 13 cases of eblv-2 from a single species; myotis daubentonii. no other lyssavirus species has been detected. between 2005 and 2015, 10 656 bats were submitted, representing 18 species, creating a spatially and temporally uneven sample of british bat fauna. uniquely, three uk cases originate from a roost at stokesay castle in shropshire, england, where daily checks for grounded and dead bats are undert ...201728737119
first detection of european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) in norway.in europe, bat rabies is primarily attributed to european bat lyssavirus type 1 (eblv-1) and european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) which are both strongly host-specific. approximately thirty cases of infection with eblv-2 in daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii) and pond bats (m. dasycneme) have been reported. two human cases of rabies caused by eblv-2 have also been confirmed during the last thirty years, while natural spill-over to other non-flying mammals has never been reported. rabies has ...201728693578
host social organization and mating system shape parasite transmission opportunities in three european bat species.for non-mobile parasites living on social hosts, infection dynamics are strongly influenced by host life history and social system. we explore the impact of host social systems on parasite population dynamics by comparing the infection intensity and transmission opportunities of three mite species of the genus spinturnix across their three european bat hosts (myotis daubentonii, myotis myotis, myotis nattereri) during the bats' autumn mating season. mites mainly reproduce in host maternity colon ...201727858154
molecular evidence of chlamydia-like organisms in the feces of myotis daubentonii bats.chlamydia-like organisms (clos) are recently identified members of the chlamydiales order. clos share intracellular lifestyles and biphasic developmental cycles, and they have been detected in environmental samples as well as in various hosts such as amoebae and arthropods. in this study, we screened bat feces for the presence of clos by molecular analysis. using pan-chlamydiales pcr targeting the 16s rrna gene, chlamydiales dna was detected in 54% of the specimens. pcr amplification, sequencing ...201727815278
two eblv-2 infected daubenton's bats detected in the north of england. 201627660356
description of the male and the larva of ixodes ariadnae hornok, 2014.ixodes ariadnae is a tick species of bats so far reported only in central europe, with its description based on the female and nymph. this study describes the male and larva in order to complete the description of the species. male ticks collected from cave walls in hungary showed a different morphology from those of i. vespertilionis and i. simplex. molecular analysis of the cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi) gene of these ticks verified them as conspecific to i. ariadnae. in addition, a larva ...201627473852
sonar sound groups and increased terminal buzz duration reflect task complexity in hunting bats.more difficult tasks are generally regarded as such because they demand greater attention. echolocators provide rare insight into this relationship because biosonar signals can be monitored. here we show that bats produce longer terminal buzzes and more sonar sound groups during their approach to prey under presumably more difficult conditions. specifically, we found daubenton's bats, myotis daubentonii, produced longer buzzes when aerial-hawking versus water-trawling prey, but that bats taking ...201626857019
what you need is what you eat? prey selection by the bat myotis daubentonii.optimal foraging theory predicts that predators are selective when faced with abundant prey, but become less picky when prey gets sparse. insectivorous bats in temperate regions are faced with the challenge of building up fat reserves vital for hibernation during a period of decreasing arthropod abundances. according to optimal foraging theory, prehibernating bats should adopt a less selective feeding behavior--yet empirical studies have revealed many apparently generalized species to be compose ...201626841188
reduction of metal exposure of daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii) following remediation of pond sediment as evidenced by metal concentrations in hair.transfer of contaminants from freshwater sediments via aquatic insects to terrestrial predators is well documented in spiders and birds. here, we analyzed the metal exposure of myotis daubentonii using an urban pond as their preferred foraging area before and after a remediation measure (sediment dredging) at this pond. six metal elements (zn, cu, cr, cd, pb and ni) were measured in the sediment of the pond, in edta extracts of the sediment and in hair samples of m. daubentonii foraging at the p ...201626780144
insectivorous bats carry host specific astroviruses and coronaviruses across different regions in germany.recently several infectious agents with a zoonotic potential have been detected in different bat species. however, there is still a lack of knowledge on the transmission dynamics within and between bat species, as well as from bats to other mammals. to better understand these processes, it is important to compare the phylogenetic relationships between different agents to that of their respective hosts. in this study, we analysed more than 950 urine, faeces and oral swab samples collected from 65 ...201626584511
lyssavirus-reactive antibodies in swedish bats.to study the presence of european bat lyssavirus (eblv) infections in bat reservoirs in sweden, active surveillance was performed during the summers from 2008 to 2013.201627974131
bats increase the number of cultivable airborne fungi in the "nietoperek" bat reserve in western poland.the "nietoperek" bat reserve located in western poland is one of the largest bat hibernation sites in the european union with nearly 38,000 bats from 12 species. nietoperek is part of a built underground fortification system from wwii. the aims of the study were (1) to determine the fungal species composition and changes during hibernation season in relation to bat number and microclimatic conditions and (2) evaluate the potential threat of fungi for bat assemblages and humans visiting the compl ...201627084554
sequencing and molecular modeling identifies candidate members of caliciviridae family in bats.emerging viral diseases represent an ongoing challenge for globalized world and bats constitute an immense, partially explored, reservoir of potentially zoonotic viruses. caliciviruses are important human and animal pathogens and, as observed for human noroviruses, they may impact on human health on a global scale. by screening fecal samples of bats in hungary, calicivirus rna was identified in the samples of myotis daubentonii and eptesicus serotinus bats. in order to characterize more in detai ...201627085289
detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in hard ticks (acari, ixodidae) parasitizing bats in poland.a total of 491 ixodes vespertilionis and 8 ixodes ricinus collected from bats and cave walls in southern poland between 2010 and 2012 were examined by the polymerase chain reaction for tick-transmitted pathogens. pcr analysis for borrelia burgdorferi s.l., rickettsia spp., and anaplasma phagocytophilum yielded negative results for all i. vespertilionis. dna of rickettsia helvetica was detected in three specimens of i. ricinus attached to rhinolophus hipposideros or myotis myotis, while borrelia ...201626833325
[possibilities for identification of cryptic species of chiroptera using host-specific ectoparasites].the possibility of identification of the sibling species of chiroptera by the example of myotis daubentonii kuhl, 1817 and myotis petax hollister, 1912 by their host-specific ectoparasitic fauna is discussed. their habitat limits are defined.201623662469
first confirmation of pseudogymnoascus destructans in british bats and hibernacula.white-nose syndrome (wns) is a fatal fungal infection of bats in north america caused by pseudogymnoascus destructans. p. destructans has been confirmed in continental europe but not associated with mass mortality. its presence in great britain was unknown. opportunistic sampling of bats in gb began during the winter of 2009. any dead bats or samples from live bats with visible fungal growths were submitted to the animal health and veterinary laboratories agency for culture. active surveillance ...201525968064
pseudogymnoascus destructans: evidence of virulent skin invasion for bats under natural conditions, europe.while pseudogymnoascus destructans has been responsible for mass bat mortalities from white-nose syndrome (wns) in north america, its virulence in europe has been questioned. to shed the light on the issue of host-pathogen interaction between european bats and p. destructans, we examined seventeen bats emerging from the fungus-positive underground hibernacula in the czech republic during early spring 2013. dual wing-membrane biopsies were taken from barbastella barbastellus (1), myotis daubenton ...201525268034
the aerodynamic cost of head morphology in bats: maybe not as bad as it seems.at first sight, echolocating bats face a difficult trade-off. as flying animals, they would benefit from a streamlined geometric shape to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase flight efficiency. however, as echolocating animals, their pinnae generate the acoustic cues necessary for navigation and foraging. moreover, species emitting sound through their nostrils often feature elaborate noseleaves that help in focussing the emitted echolocation pulses. both pinnae and noseleaves reduce the streamli ...201525739038
molecular detection of candidatus bartonella hemsundetiensis in bats.although bats have been implicated as reservoir hosts for a number of zoonotic and life-threatening viruses, the bat bacterial flora and its zoonotic threat remain elusive. however, members of the vector-borne bacterial genera bartonella causing various human as well as animal diseases have recently been isolated or detected from bats and their ectoparasites. in this study, we sampled 124 insectivorous microbats (daubenton's bat, myotis daubentonii) for peripheral blood in southwestern finland i ...201526501463
how to be a male at different elevations: ecology of intra-sexual segregation in the trawling bat myotis daubentonii.intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. in the bat myotis daubentonii, males are disproportionately abundant at higher elevations, while females are restricted to lower altitude. intra-male segregation is also known to occur yet its ecological and behavioural determinants are unclear. we studied male segregation along a river in central italy where we tested the following predictions: 1. upstream ( > 1000 m a.s.l.) males will rely on scarcer prey; 2 ...201526230548
dynamics of the echolocation beam during prey pursuit in aerial hawking bats.in the evolutionary arms race between prey and predator, measures and countermeasures continuously evolve to increase survival on both sides. bats and moths are prime examples. when exposed to intense ultrasound, eared moths perform dramatic escape behaviors. vespertilionid and rhinolophid bats broaden their echolocation beam in the final stage of pursuit, presumably as a countermeasure to keep evading moths within their "acoustic field of view." in this study, we investigated if dynamic beam br ...201526080398
how anthropogenic noise affects foraging.the influence of human activity on the biosphere is increasing. while direct damage (e.g. habitat destruction) is relatively well understood, many activities affect wildlife in less apparent ways. here, we investigate how anthropogenic noise impairs foraging, which has direct consequences for animal survival and reproductive success. noise can disturb foraging via several mechanisms that may operate simultaneously, and thus, their effects could not be disentangled hitherto. we developed a diagno ...201526046451
trace metal concentrations in hairs of three bat species from an urbanized area in germany.metal-contaminated soils and sediments are widespread in urbanized areas due to atmospheric deposition close to emission sources. these metals are bio-available for organisms, e.g., insects, and accumulate in food chains of insectivorous mammals. especially bats, which live in urban regions and ingest large amounts of food relative to their body mass, are at risk of being poisoned due to the accumulation of trace metals. to determine species-specific trace metal contents in bats from urban envir ...201525968272
fast sensory-motor reactions in echolocating bats to sudden changes during the final buzz and prey intercept.echolocation is an active sense enabling bats and toothed whales to orient in darkness through echo returns from their ultrasonic signals. immediately before prey capture, both bats and whales emit a buzz with such high emission rates (≥ 180 hz) and overall duration so short that its functional significance remains an enigma. to investigate sensory-motor control during the buzz of the insectivorous bat myotis daubentonii, we removed prey, suspended in air or on water, before expected capture. th ...201525775538
[new records of ectoparasites of the eastern water bat myotis petax hollister, 1912 (vespertilionidae, chiroptera) and the revision of the previous material collected from myotis daubentonii s. lato in eastern palaearctic].new findings of ectoparasites from the eastern water bat myotis petax hollister, 1912, belonging to the siberian-russian far eastern complex and earlier attributed as a subspecies of the daubenton's bat myotis daubentonii s. lato, is given. fourteen species of bloodsucking arthropods feed on m. petax; these species include 4, 3, and 7 species of gamasid mites, fleas, and bloodsucking flies, respectively.201525702504
clutter and conspecifics: a comparison of their influence on echolocation and flight behaviour in daubenton's bat, myotis daubentonii.we compared the influence of conspecifics and clutter on echolocation and flight speed in the bat myotis daubentonii. in a large room, actual pairs of bats exhibited greater disparity in peak frequency (pf), minimum frequency (f min) and call period compared to virtual pairs of bats, each flying alone. greater inter-individual disparity in pf and f min may reduce acoustic interference and/or increase signal self-recognition in the presence of conspecifics. bats flying alone in a smaller flight r ...201525552318
epidemiological traits of the malaria-like parasite polychromophilus murinus in the daubenton's bat myotis daubentonii.the great diversity of bat haemosporidians is being uncovered with the help of molecular tools. yet most of these studies provide only snapshots in time of the parasites discovered. polychromophilus murinus, a malaria-like blood parasite, specialised on temperate-zone bats is a species that is being 'rediscovered'. this study describes the infection dynamics over time and between host sex and age classes.201425487126
sympatric woodland myotis bats form tight-knit social groups with exclusive roost home ranges.the structuring of wild animal populations can influence population dynamics, disease spread, and information transfer. social network analysis potentially offers insights into these processes but is rarely, if ever, used to investigate more than one species in a community. we therefore compared the social, temporal and spatial networks of sympatric myotis bats (m. nattereri (natterer's bats) and m. daubentonii (daubenton's bats)), and asked: (1) are there long-lasting social associations within ...201425356770
interspecific variation in redox status regulation and immune defence in five bat species: the role of ectoparasites.harmful reactive oxygen species (ros) produced during metabolism and immune responses are neutralized in part by a powerful enzymatic antioxidant system. inter-species variability in the baseline activity of antioxidant enzymes may be explained by a variety of life history traits. for instance, ectoparasites can elicit repeated immune responses, thus increasing the production of reactive oxygen species. the bat species studied so far have been acknowledged to have effective antioxidant defences. ...201424839093
enhanced passive bat rabies surveillance in indigenous bat species from germany--a retrospective study.in germany, rabies in bats is a notifiable zoonotic disease, which is caused by european bat lyssaviruses type 1 and 2 (eblv-1 and 2), and the recently discovered new lyssavirus species bokeloh bat lyssavirus (bblv). as the understanding of bat rabies in insectivorous bat species is limited, in addition to routine bat rabies diagnosis, an enhanced passive surveillance study, i.e. the retrospective investigation of dead bats that had not been tested for rabies, was initiated in 1998 to study the ...201424784117
lyssavirus distribution in naturally infected bats from germany.in germany, to date three different lyssavirus species are responsible for bat rabies in indigenous bats: the european bat lyssaviruses type 1 and 2 (eblv-1, eblv-2) and the bokeloh bat lyssavirus (bblv) for which eptesicus serotinus, myotis daubentonii and myotis nattereri, respectively, are primary hosts. lyssavirus maintenance, evolution, and epidemiology are still insufficiently explored. moreover, the small number of bats infected, the nocturnal habits of bats and the limited experimental d ...201424440375
an integrative approach to detect subtle trophic niche differentiation in the sympatric trawling bat species myotis dasycneme and myotis daubentonii.bats are well known for species richness and ecological diversity, and thus, they provide a good opportunity to study relationships and interaction between species. to assess interactions, we consider distinct traits that are probably to be triggered by niche shape and evolutionary processes. we present data on the trophic niche differentiation between two sympatric european trawling bat species, myotis dasycneme and myotis daubentonii, incorporating a wide spectrum of methodological approaches. ...201424164379
bats as reservoir hosts of human bacterial pathogen, bartonella mayotimonensis.a plethora of pathogenic viruses colonize bats. however, bat bacterial flora and its zoonotic threat remain ill defined. in a study initially conducted as a quantitative metagenomic analysis of the fecal bacterial flora of the daubenton's bat in finland, we unexpectedly detected dna of several hemotrophic and ectoparasite-transmitted bacterial genera, including bartonella. bartonella spp. also were either detected or isolated from the peripheral blood of daubenton's, northern, and whiskered bats ...201424856523
insectivorous bats digest chitin in the stomach using acidic mammalian chitinase.the gastrointestinal tract of animals is adapted to their primary source of food to optimize resource use and energy intake. temperate bat species mainly feed on arthropods. these contain the energy-rich carbohydrate chitin, which is indigestible for the endogenous enzymes of a typical mammalian gastrointestinal tract. however, the gastrointestinal tract of bat species should be adapted to their diet and be able to digest chitin. we hypothesized that (i) european vespertilionid bat species have ...201324019876
bat rabies surveillance in europe.rabies is the oldest known zoonotic disease and was also the first recognized bat associated infection in humans. to date, four different lyssavirus species are the causative agents of rabies in european bats: the european bat lyssaviruses type 1 and 2 (eblv-1, eblv-2), the recently discovered putative new lyssavirus species bokeloh bat lyssavirus (bblv) and the west caucasian bat virus (wcbv). unlike in the new world, bat rabies cases in europe are comparatively less frequent, possibly as a res ...201322963584
next generation sequencing of fecal dna reveals the dietary diversity of the widespread insectivorous predator daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) in southwestern finland.understanding predator-prey dynamics is a fundamental task in the evaluation of the adaptive capacities of species. however, direct observations or morphological identification of fecal remains do not offer an effective way to study the dietary ecology of elusive species, such as nocturnal insectivorous bats. however, recent advances in molecular techniques have opened a new method for identifying prey species from fecal samples. in this study, we amplified species-specific mitochondrial coi fra ...201324312405
ecological factors associated with european bat lyssavirus seroprevalence in spanish bats.bats have been proposed as major reservoirs for diverse emerging infectious viral diseases, with rabies being the best known in europe. however, studies exploring the ecological interaction between lyssaviruses and their natural hosts are scarce. this study completes our active surveillance work on spanish bat colonies that began in 1992. herein, we analyzed ecological factors that might affect the infection dynamics observed in those colonies. between 2001 and 2011, we collected and tested 2,39 ...201323700480
molecular epidemiology of bat lyssaviruses in europe.bat rabies cases in europe are principally attributed to two lyssaviruses, namely european bat lyssavirus type 1 (eblv-1) and european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2). between 1977 and 2011, 961 cases of bat rabies were reported to rabies bulletin europe, with the vast majority (>97%) being attributed to eblv-1. there have been 25 suspected cases of eblv-2, of which 22 have been confirmed. in addition, two single isolations of unique lyssaviruses from european insectivorous bats were reported in ...201322937876
bat rabies surveillance in finland.in 1985, a bat researcher in finland died of rabies encephalitis caused by european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2), but an epidemiological study in 1986 did not reveal eblv-infected bats. in 2009, an eblv-2-positive daubenton's bat was detected. the eblv-2 isolate from the human case in 1985 and the isolate from the bat in 2009 were genetically closely related. in order to assess the prevalence of eblvs in finnish bat populations and to gain a better understanding of the public health risk that ...201324011337
balancing the energy budget in free-ranging male myotis daubentonii bats.mammals use five main, mutually nonexclusive mechanisms to balance energy budgets: torpor, metabolic compensation, change in activity patterns, change in ingested energy, and/or variability in digestive efficiency. bats, as small and actively flying mammals, have a high mass-specific energy demand; therefore, balancing mechanisms should be pronounced in this group. we found that male myotis daubentonii exhibited marked variation in the relative importance of these different mechanisms during the ...201323629886
trawling bats exploit an echo-acoustic ground effect.a water surface acts not only as an optic mirror but also as an acoustic mirror. echolocation calls emitted by bats at low heights above water are reflected away from the bat, and hence the background clutter is reduced. moreover, targets on the surface create an enhanced echo. here, we formally quantified the effect of the surface and target height on both target detection and -discrimination in a combined laboratory and field approach with myotis daubentonii. in a two-alternative, forced-choic ...201323576990
resistance to oxidative damage but not immunosuppression by organic tin compounds in natural populations of daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii).the acute toxicity of organic tin compounds (otcs) has been studied in detail. however, due to their complex nature, very little is known about species-specific methods of accumulation and consequences for food-webs. chironomids, on which e.g. daubenton's bats feed, may act as vectors for the transport of organic tin compounds from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. bats are prone to environmental toxins because of their longevity and their ecological role as top predators. organic tin compounds ...201323369694
sexual segregation and flexible mating patterns in temperate bats.social structure evolves from a trade-off between the costs and benefits of group-living, which are in turn dependent upon the distribution of key resources such as food and shelter. males and females, or juveniles and adults, may have different priorities when selecting habitat due to differences in physiological or behavioural imperatives, leading to complex patterns in group composition. we studied social structure and mating behaviour in the insectivorous bat myotis daubentonii along an alti ...201323365652
bat rabies, public health and european bat conservation.most records of european bat lyssaviruses (eblvs) are confined to three species - the serotine bat for eblv1 (900 records) and daubenton's bat and the pond bat for eblv2 (25 records). high levels of seroprevalence, which may vary from year to year, are also recorded. all bat vectors of eblvs are synanthropic, some exclusively so. despite this, there have been only five cases of human rabies resulting from eblv infection in the 590 million people of greater europe during the last 35 years. these ...201322909028
[variability of the dimensional structure in the hemipopulation of thominx neopulchra (nematoda: capillariidae) females from bats of the genus myotis (chiroptera: vespertilionidae)].variability of the dimensional structure in the hemipopulation thominx neopulchra females from 3 species of the genus myotis bats in the zhiguli state reserve was examined. the size of t. neopulchra from different bat species varied within the limits constituting 10.17-13.41 mm. it was demonstrated that the variability of the dimensional structure in the subpopulation group t. neopulchra from daubenton's bats did not depend on the number of parasites in the host and the season and is probably de ...201222586922
impact of pit tagging on recapture rates, body condition and reproductive success of wild daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii).a successful and safe methodology for the subcutaneous insertion of passive integrated transponder (pit) tags in a small- to medium-sized bat (average mass 9 g) under isoflurane-induced anaesthesia is described. passive integrated transponder (pit) tagging had no significant impact on the rate of recapture, body condition index (bci) (bodyweight/forearm length) and reproductive success of tagged individuals, and no visible injuries or health problems were observed in any of the recaptured bats. ...201222090155
detection of european bat lyssavirus 2 (eblv-2) in a daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) from magdeburg, germany.in europe bat rabies in daubenton's bats (myotisdaubentonii) and in pond bats (myotis dasycneme) caused by the european bat lyssavirus 2 (eblv-2) has been confirmed in less than 20 cases to date. here we report the second encounter of this virus species in germany. a daubenton's bat found grounded in the zoological garden in magdeburg died shortly after. in the frame of a retrospective study the bat carcass was eventually transferred to the national reference laboratory for rabies at the friedri ...201222712424
[demonstration of nycteribia kolenati (diptera, nycteribiidae) in west germany and west berlin].19 records of n. kolenatii from 10 different localities are given. the bat species myotis daubentoni, m. mystacinus, pipistrellus pipistrellus and nyctalus noctula were found as hosts.20123425966
a method for estimating the orientation of a directional sound source from source directivity and multi-microphone recordings: principles and application.taking into account directivity of real sound sources makes it possible to try solving an interesting and biologically relevant problem: estimating the orientation in three-dimensional space of a directional sound source. the source, of known directivity, produces a broadband signal (in the ultrasonic range, in this application) that is recorded by microphones whose position with respect to source is known. an analytical method to process the recorded signals and estimate source orientation is d ...201121361460
[characteristic of reproductive structure in the hemipopulation of a bat-parasitizing nematode thominx neopulchra (nematoda, capillariidae)].features of reproductive structure of the thominx neopulchra hemipopulation from daubenton's bat from zhiguli state reserve are studied. it is established, that females and males of th. neopulchra have different dynamics of coming in the host population. males of the parasite invade the of daubenton's bat population during all the year, while females infest the host only from may to november. maturing of helminthes become slowed in winter period. only about a half of of the host population is in ...201121309148
circulation of group 2 coronaviruses in a bat species common to urban areas in western europe.fecal samples of 211 bats representing 13 different bat species from 31 locations in the netherlands were analyzed for the presence of coronaviruses (cov) using a genus-wide reverse transcription (rt)-polymerase chain reaction. covs are known for their high potential for interspecies transmission, including zoonotic transmission with bats as reservoir hosts. for the first time, a group 2 cov was found in a bat, pipistrellus pipistrellus, in europe. this is of particular interest for public healt ...201020055576
vespertilionid bats control the width of their biosonar sound beam dynamically during prey pursuit.animals using sound for communication emit directional signals, focusing most acoustic energy in one direction. echolocating bats are listening for soft echoes from insects. therefore, a directional biosonar sound beam greatly increases detection probability in the forward direction and decreases off-axis echoes. however, high directionality has context-specific disadvantages: at close range the detection space will be vastly reduced, making a broad beam favorable. hence, a flexible system would ...201020643943
first encounter of european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) in a bat in finland.in finland, rabies in bats was suspected for the first time in 1985 when a bat researcher, who had multiple bat bites, died in helsinki. the virus isolated from the researcher proved to be antigenically related to rabies viruses previously detected in german bats. later, the virus was typed as eblv-2b. despite an epidemiological study in bats 1986 and subsequent rabies surveillance, rabies in bats was not detected in finland until the first case in a daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) was conf ...201020196902
angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ace2) proteins of different bat species confer variable susceptibility to sars-cov entry.the discovery of sars-like coronavirus in bats suggests that bats could be the natural reservoir of sars-cov. however, previous studies indicated the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ace2) protein, a known sars-cov receptor, from a horseshoe bat was unable to act as a functional receptor for sars-cov. here, we extended our previous study to ace2 molecules from seven additional bat species and tested their interactions with human sars-cov spike protein using both hiv-based pseudotype and live sar ...201020567988
surveillance for european bat lyssavirus in swiss bats.most countries in western europe are currently free of rabies in terrestrial mammals. nevertheless, rabies remains a residual risk to public health due to the natural circulation of bat-specific viruses, such as european bat lyssaviruses (eblvs). european bat lyssavirus types 1 and 2 (eblv-1 and eblv-2) are widely distributed throughout europe, but little is known of their true prevalence and epidemiology. we report that only three out of 837 brains taken from bats submitted to the swiss rabies ...201020803042
heavy metals and metallothionein in vespertilionid bats foraging over aquatic habitats in the czech republic.there has been growing interest in the study and conservation of bats throughout the world. declines in their absolute numbers in recent decades are due, in part, to the fact that insectivorous bats may bioaccumulate toxic pollutants. the purpose of the present study was to quantify heavy metal concentrations in kidney, liver, and pectoral muscle samples in relation to metallothionein (mt) levels. in total, 106 bats belonging to 11 european species (i.e., myotis myotis, myotis daubentonii, myoti ...201020821471
bat population genetics and lyssavirus presence in great britain.summarymost lyssaviruses appear to have bat species as reservoir hosts. in europe, of around 800 reported cases in bats, most were of european bat lyssavirus type 1 (eblv-1) in eptesicus serotinus (where the bat species was identified). about 20 cases of eblv-2 were recorded, and these were in myotis daubentonii and m. dasycneme. through a passive surveillance scheme, britain reports about one case a year of eblv-2, but no cases of the more prevalent eblv-1. an analysis of e. serotinus and m. da ...201021205436
european bat lyssavirus type 2 in a daubenton's bat in scotland. 200919783855
repeated detection of european bat lyssavirus type 2 in dead bats found at a single roost site in the uk.in august 2007, european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) was isolated from a daubenton's bat found at stokesay castle. in september 2008, another bat from the same vicinity of stokesay castle also tested positive for eblv-2. this is the first occurrence of repeated detection of eblv-2 from a single site. here, we report the detection of low levels of viral rna in various bat organs by qrt-pcr and detection of viral antigen by immunohistochemistry. we also report sequence data from both cases and ...200919841859
targeted surveillance for european bat lyssaviruses in english bats (2003-06).in 2003-06, targeted (active) surveillance for european bat lyssaviruses (eblvs) was undertaken throughout england, focusing on two species most likely to host these viruses, myotis daubentonii and eptesicus serotinus. blood was sampled for the detection of eblv-specific neutralizing antibodies and oropharyngeal swabs were taken for the detection of viral rna or infectious virus in saliva. between 2003 and 2006, 273 e. serotinus and 363 m. daubentonii blood samples were tested by the eblv-1 or e ...200919901379
bat rabies--a gordian knot?although classical rabies is one of the earliest identified and best studied infectious diseases, there is still limited knowledge about lyssaviruses and their major natural hosts, bats. focussing on bat rabies in europe caused by european bat lyssaviruses 1 (eblv-1) and 2, for instance the association of eblv-1 to eptesicus bats and eblv-2 to myotis daubentonii and m. dasycneme together with an apparent clustering of cases is one question still to be answered. furthermore, the question whether ...200919999377
echolocating bats emit a highly directional sonar sound beam in the field.bats use echolocation or biosonar to navigate and find prey at night. they emit short ultrasonic calls and listen for reflected echoes. the beam width of the calls is central to the function of the sonar, but directionality of echolocation calls has never been measured from bats flying in the wild. we used a microphone array to record sounds and determine horizontal directionality for echolocation calls of the trawling daubenton's bat, myotis daubentonii, flying over a pond in its natural habita ...200919129126
first isolation of eblv-2 in germany.in europe, rabies in bats is caused by european bat lyssavirus (eblv) type 1 (eblv-1) or type 2 (eblv-2) which form two distinct genotypes (gt 5 and 6) within the genus lyssavirus of the family of rhadoviridae. spill-over infections of eblv in humans have caused fatal rabies encephalitis and highlighted the relevance of this wildlife disease for public health. the vast majority of the 831 european bat rabies cases reported between 1977 and 2006 were identified as eblv-1. only few virus isolates ...200818424021
spatial distribution of mitochondrial and microsatellite dna variation in daubenton's bat within scotland.daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) is a known reservoir for european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2). an appreciation of the potential for epidemiological spread and disease risk requires an understanding of the dispersal of the primary host, and any large-scale geographical barriers that may impede gene flow. the spatial pattern of microsatellite and mitochondrial dna variation was examined to infer patterns of dispersal of bats among 35 populations across scotland. dna sequence variation at t ...200818565113
the application of genetic markers for eblv surveillance in european bat species.the united kingdom has performed passive surveillance for european bat lyssaviruses (eblvs) since 1987, and species-targeted surveillance since 2003. one critical component of these studies is the accurate identification of bats either submitted for testing or sampled in the field. identification is dependent on numerous morphological characteristics. whilst this is an effective means of bat identification, a number of problems remain with this approach. it relies on the experience of bat specia ...200818634497
experimental study of european bat lyssavirus type-2 infection in daubenton's bats (myotis daubentonii).european bat lyssavirus type 2 (eblv-2) can be transmitted from daubenton's bats to humans and cause rabies. eblv-2 has been repeatedly isolated from daubenton's bats in the uk but appears to be present at a low level within the native bat population. this has prompted us to investigate the disease in its natural host under experimental conditions, to assess its virulence, dissemination and likely means of transmission between insectivorous bats. with the exception of direct intracranial inocula ...200818931061
[spatial structure of the community of bats (chiroptera: vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of samarskaya luka].specific features of the spatial distribution and localization of bats have been studied during their hibernation in artificial caves of samarskaya luka. the proportion of cave area occupied by bats varies from 70 to 93% in large caves (> 60000 m2), decreasing to 50% in medium-sized caves (10000-60000 m2) and to less than 30% in small caves (< 10000 m2). approximately 9% of bats choose sites near cave openings, up to 25% prefer central parts, but most bats (about 66%) concentrate in the deepest ...200818946997
host sex and ectoparasites choice: preference for, and higher survival on female hosts.1. sex differences in levels of parasite infection are a common rule in a wide range of mammals, with males usually more susceptible than females. sex-specific exposure to parasites, e.g. mediated through distinct modes of social aggregation between and within genders, as well as negative relationships between androgen levels and immune defences are thought to play a major role in this pattern. 2. reproductive female bats live in close association within clusters at maternity roosts, whereas non ...200717584376
isolation of european bat lyssavirus type 2 from a daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) in shropshire. 200717873269
flight and echolocation behaviour of three vespertilionid bat species while commuting on flyways.this study compares the flight and echolocation behaviour of three vespertilionid bat species while they commute on flyways. we measured the bats' spatial position relative to vertical background contours and relative to the ground while recording their echolocation behaviour. in myotis daubentonii, we found a significant influence of spatial context on the position and dimensions of flyways as well as on echolocation behaviour. in gap situations, flyways tended to be narrower and located closer ...200717885759
european bat lyssavirus type 2 rna in myotis daubentonii.organ distribution of european bat lyssavirus type 2 viral rna in its reservoir host, myotis daubentonii (daubenton's bat), was measured with a novel quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. high levels of genomic rna were found in the brain and were also detectable in the tongue, bladder, and stomach.200616836837
occupational lyssavirus risks and post-vaccination monitoring.in the uk, rabies pre-exposure vaccination involves a 3-dose course (do, 7 & 28) and reinforcing doses at a 2-3 year intervals. this booster schedule had been implemented following scientific evidence indicating that a reduction in the previous regime interval of 3-5 years was warranted. the regime changes were particularly relevant to high risk groups that may encounter rabies virus. those at known high risk of exposure to rabies and other lyssaviruses include laboratory staff and a diverse gro ...200616878474
eblv-2 prevalence in the united kingdom as determined by surveillance testing.five cases of eblv-2 have been detected in the uk since 1996, with all wildlife cases in the daubenton's bat: one on the south coast in sussex in 1996, one in lancashire in 2002, another in 2003, one in surrey in 2004 and a human fatality in angus, scotland, in 2002. as a result of the human case, a seroprevalence study, aimed primarily at the daubenton's bat was conducted in 2003 in scotland and at some sites in england. in scotland, 198 daubenton's, 20 natterer's and 6 pipistrelles were caught ...200616878484
passive surveillance (1987 to 2004) of united kingdom bats for european bat lyssaviruses.passive surveillance for european bat lyssaviruses (eblvs) in the uk began in 1987, and between 1987 and 2004, 4,883 bats of european origin (4,871 belonging to 17 uk resident species and 12 belonging to seven non-uk resident species) were tested. the proportions and numbers of each species submitted from different regions varied considerably, partly owing to inherent biases in the passive surveillance, and there were seasonal variations in the numbers, sex and age of the bats. contact with cats ...200617012608
isolation of eblv-2 in a daubenton's bat (myotis daubentonii) found in oxfordshire. 200617041069
development of a real-time, differential rt-pcr taqman assay for lyssavirus genotypes 1, 5 and 6.a number of rt-pcr methods have been reported for the detection of rabies and rabies-related viruses. here, a single, closed tube, non-nested rt-pcr taqman assay to distinguish between classical rabies virus and european bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2 in real time is described. the taqman assay is rapid, sensitive, specific and allows for the genotyping of unknown isolates concomitant with the rt-pcr. it can be applied quantitatively and the use of an internal control enables the quality of the isolat ...200617058499
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