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seroprevalence of toscana virus and sandfly fever sicilian virus in european bat colonies measured using a neutralization test.toscana phlebovirus (tosv) and sicilian phlebovirus (sfsv) are endemic in the mediterranean area where they are transmitted to humans by infected sandflies. vertebrates of several species have been postulated to act as reservoirs of these viruses, but convincing evidence is still awaited. among them, bats have been suggested, however documented evidence is lacking. here we tested a total of 329 bats belonging to eight species collected from twelve localities in southern spain for the presence of ...202133440618
timescale and colony-dependent relationships between environmental conditions and plasma oxidative markers in a long-lived bat species.to increase the applicability and success of physiological approaches in conservation plans, conservation physiology should be based on ecologically relevant relationships between physiological markers and environmental variation that can only be obtained from wild populations. given their integrative and multifaceted aspects, markers of oxidative status have recently been considered in conservation physiology, but still need to be validated across environmental conditions and locations. here, w ...202033173584
synergetic effects of immune challenge and stress depress cortisol, inflammatory response and antioxidant activity in fish-eating myotis.one of the most common tools in conservation physiology is the assessment of environmental stress via glucocorticoid measurement. however, little is known of its relationship with other stress related biomarkers, and how the incidence of an immune challenge during a long-term stress could affect individuals overall stress response. we investigated here the relationship between basal and post-acute stress fecal cortisol metabolite (fc) with different antioxidant enzymes, oxidative damage, and imm ...202033161382
bat population recoveries give insight into clustering strategies during hibernation.behaviour during hibernation contributes to energy conservation in winter. hibernating bats select roosts with respect to physiological and environmental stressors, available local microclimate and species-specific requirements.202032884575
viral metagenomic profiling of croatian bat population reveals sample and habitat dependent diversity.to date, the microbiome, as well as the virome of the croatian populations of bats, was unknown. here, we present the results of the first viral metagenomic analysis of guano, feces and saliva (oral swabs) of seven bat species (myotis myotis, miniopterus schreibersii, rhinolophus ferrumequinum, eptesicus serotinus, myotis blythii, myotis nattereri and myotis emarginatus) conducted in mediterranean and continental croatia. viral nucleic acids were extracted from sample pools, and analyzed using i ...202032824037
a culture-based id of micromycetes on the wing membranes of greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis) from the "nietoperek" site (poland).bats play important functions in ecosystems and many of them are threatened with extinction. thus, the monitoring of the health status and prevention of diseases seem to be important aspects of welfare and conservation of these mammals. the main goal of the study was the identification of culturable fungal species colonizing the wing membranes of female greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis) during spring emergence from the "nietoperek" underground hibernation site by the use of genetic and phe ...202032756314
telomere shortening correlates with harsh weather conditions in the bat species myotis myotis.the relationship of telomere shortening and cellular ageing in cultured cells such as fibroblasts is straightforward: telomeres shorten with an increasing number of cell divisions until they trigger replicative senescence which prevents further mitotic cycles. but studies investigating the relationship between telomere shortening and ageing in whole organisms show contrasting results: while there is a clear decline in telomere length (tl) with chronological age in some species such as humans, no ...202032745307
six reference-quality genomes reveal evolution of bat adaptations.bats possess extraordinary adaptations, including flight, echolocation, extreme longevity and unique immunity. high-quality genomes are crucial for understanding the molecular basis and evolution of these traits. here we incorporated long-read sequencing and state-of-the-art scaffolding protocols1 to generate, to our knowledge, the first reference-quality genomes of six bat species (rhinolophus ferrumequinum, rousettus aegyptiacus, phyllostomus discolor, myotis myotis, pipistrellus kuhlii and mo ...202032699395
genetic variation between long-lived versus short-lived bats illuminates the molecular signatures of longevity.bats are the longest-lived mammals given their body size with majority of species exhibiting exceptional longevity. however, there are some short-lived species that do not exhibit extended lifespans. here we conducted a comparative genomic and transcriptomic study on long-lived myotis myotis (maximum lifespan = 37.1 years) and short-lived molossus molossus (maximum lifespan = 5.6 years) to ascertain the genetic difference underlying their divergent longevities. genome-wide selection tests on 12, ...202032674072
low seasonal variation in greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis) blood parameters.the greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis) is a flagship species for the protection of hibernation and summer maternity roosts in the western palearctic region. a range of pathogenic agents is known to put pressure on populations, including the white-nose syndrome fungus, for which the species shows the highest prevalence and infection intensity of all european bat species. here, we perform analysis of blood parameters characteristic for the species during its natural annual life cycle in order ...202032634149
phagocyte activity reflects mammalian homeo- and hetero-thermic physiological states.emergence of both viral zoonoses from bats and diseases that threaten bat populations has highlighted the necessity for greater insights into the functioning of the bat immune system. particularly when considering hibernating temperate bat species, it is important to understand the seasonal dynamics associated with immune response. body temperature is one of the factors that modulates immune functions and defence mechanisms against pathogenic agents in vertebrates. to better understand innate im ...202032631329
the faecal microbiome of building-dwelling insectivorous bats (myotis myotis and rhinolophus hipposideros) also contains antibiotic-resistant bacterial representatives.the bacteriome of bat faeces and bat guano is still not well known, despite the increasing knowledge of it as a potential source of pathogenic and/or antibiotic-resistant species. in this study, the faecal microbiome composition of two building-dwelling insectivorous bat species (myotis myotis and rhinolophus hipposideros) was analysed using cultivation-based and non-cultivation-based approaches. the cultivation analyses indicate the dominance of gram-positive bacteria, represented by the genera ...202032607823
transcriptional host-pathogen responses of pseudogymnoascus destructans and three species of bats with white-nose syndrome.understanding how context (e.g., host species, environmental conditions) drives disease susceptibility is an essential goal of disease ecology. we hypothesized that in bat white-nose syndrome (wns), species-specific host-pathogen interactions may partly explain varying disease outcomes among host species. we characterized bat and pathogen transcriptomes in paired samples of lesion-positive and lesion-negative wing tissue from bats infected with pseudogymnoascus destructans in three parallel expe ...202032552222
population connectivity predicts vulnerability to white-nose syndrome in the chilean myotis (myotis chiloensis) - a genomics approach.despite its peculiar distribution, the biology of the southernmost bat species in the world, the chilean myotis (myotis chiloensis), has garnered little attention so far. the species has a north-south distribution of c. 2800 km, mostly on the eastern side of the andes mountain range. use of extended torpor occurs in the southernmost portion of the range, putting the species at risk of bat white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease responsible for massive population declines in north american bats. he ...202032327452
seasonal and geographical distribution of cave-dwelling bats in romania: implications for conservation.caves offer bats refuges for hibernation, breeding and other social events. their quality is important for species distribution. the role of cave microclimate as well as other environmental factors influencing the distribution of cave-dwelling species, is poorly known. we tested the significance of cave variables (length, temperature, elevation, occurrence of water) and geographical location for the presence of bats during hibernation and the breeding season in five regions in romania. to detect ...201132313439
plasma proteomic profiles differ between european and north american myotid bats colonized by pseudogymnoascus destructans.emerging fungal diseases have become challenges for wildlife health and conservation. north american hibernating bat species are threatened by the psychrophilic fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd) causing the disease called white-nose syndrome (wns) with unprecedented mortality rates. the fungus is widespread in north america and europe, however, disease is not manifested in european bats. differences in epidemiology and pathology indicate an evolution of resistance or tolerance mechanisms ...202032279365
drivers of longitudinal telomere dynamics in a long-lived bat species, myotis myotis.age-related telomere shortening is considered a hallmark of the ageing process. however, a recent cross-sectional ageing study of relative telomere length (rtl) in bats failed to detect a relationship between rtl and age in the long-lived genus myotis (m. myotis and m. bechsteinii), suggesting some other factors are responsible for driving telomere dynamics in these species. here, we test if longitudinal rtl data show signatures of age-associated telomere attrition in m. myotis and differentiate ...202032105386
immune response of hibernating european bats to a fungal challenge.immunological responses of hibernating mammals are suppressed at low body temperatures, a possible explanation for the devastating effect of the white-nose syndrome on hibernating north american bats. however, european bats seem to cope well with the fungal causative agent of the disease. to better understand the immune response of hibernating bats, especially against fungal pathogens, we challenged european greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis) by inoculating the fungal antigen zymosan. we m ...201931649120
resistance is futile: rna-sequencing reveals differing responses to bat fungal pathogen in nearctic myotis lucifugus and palearctic myotis myotis.resistance and tolerance allow organisms to cope with potentially life-threatening pathogens. recently introduced pathogens initially induce resistance responses, but natural selection favors the development of tolerance, allowing for a commensal relationship to evolve. mycosis by pseudogymnoascus destructans, causing white-nose syndrome (wns) in nearctic hibernating bats, has resulted in population declines since 2006. the pathogen, which spread from europe, has infected species of palearctic m ...201931506746
winter habitats of bats in texas.few studies have described winter microclimate selection by bats in the southern united states. this is of particular importance as the cold-adapted fungus, pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes the fatal bat disease white-nose syndrome (wns), continues to spread into southern united states. to better understand the suitability of winter bat habitats for the growth of p. destructans in this region, we collected roost temperature and vapor pressure deficit from 97 hibernacula in six ecoregio ...201931393965
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
longitudinal comparative transcriptomics reveals unique mechanisms underlying extended healthspan in bats.bats are the longest-lived mammals, given their body size. however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of their extended healthspans are poorly understood. to address this question we carried out an eight-year longitudinal study of ageing in long-lived bats (myotis myotis). we deep-sequenced ~1.7 trillion base pairs of rna from 150 blood samples collected from known aged bats to ascertain the age-related transcriptomic shifts and potential microrna-directed regulation that occurred. we also com ...201931182815
numerous cold arousals and rare arousal cascades as a hibernation strategy in european myotis bats.hibernating bats optimise the duration of torpor bouts and arousals in relation to hibernaculum microclimatic conditions and fat reserves. clustering has significant physiological and ecological benefits, promoting successful hibernation of individuals. such aggregations may help maintain optimal temperatures, allowing better energy utilisation than in solitarily bats. however, aroused bats in a cluster could conceivably disturb those still hibernating, starting an energy-demanding arousal proce ...201931128642
detection and characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in bats in chile.hemoplasma dna was found in 22% (12/55) of samples from six bat species in chile, including one of three big-eared brown bats (histiotus macrotus), one of three small big-eared brown bats (histiotus montanus), and 10 of 27 chilean myotis (myotis chiloensis). characterization of the 16s ribosomal rna gene identified three genotypes phylogenetically related to other bat, rodent, and human hemoplasmas.201931009305
the klingon batbugs: morphological adaptations in the primitive bat bugs, bucimex chilensis and primicimex cavernis, including updated phylogeny of cimicidae.the cimicidae is a family of blood-dependent ectoparasites in which dispersion capacity is greatly associated with host movements. bats are the ancestral and most prevalent hosts for cimicids. cimicids have a worldwide distribution matching that of their hosts, but the global classification is incomplete, especially for species outside the most common cimicidae taxa. in this study, we place a little-studied cimicid species, bucimex chilensis, within a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of cimicid ...201930847069
mechanisms for lyssavirus persistence in non-synanthropic bats in europe: insights from a modeling study.bats are natural reservoirs of the largest proportion of viral zoonoses among mammals, thus understanding the conditions for pathogen persistence in bats is essential to reduce human risk. focusing on the european bat lyssavirus subtype 1 (eblv-1), causing rabies disease, we develop a data-driven spatially explicit metapopulation model to investigate eblv-1 persistence in myotis myotis and miniopterus schreibersii bat species in catalonia. we find that persistence relies on host spatial structur ...201930679459
social vocalizations of big-footed myotis (myotis macrodactylus) during foraging.acoustic signals play a crucial role in transmitting information and maintaining social stability in gregarious animals, especially in echolocating bats, which rely primarily on biological sonar for navigating in the dark. in the context of foraging without relying on tactile, visual or olfactory cues, acoustic signals convey information not only on food but also on ownership and defense of resources. however, studies on such information remain fragmentary. in the present study, we aim to docume ...201930585415
active and passive surveillance for bat lyssaviruses in italy revealed serological evidence for their circulation in three bat species.the wide geographical distribution and genetic diversity of bat-associated lyssaviruses (lysvs) across europe suggest that similar viruses may also be harboured in italian insectivorous bats. indeed, bats were first included within the passive national surveillance programme for rabies in wildlife in the 1980s, while active surveillance has been performed since 2008. the active surveillance strategies implemented allowed us to detect neutralizing antibodies directed towards european bat 1 lyssav ...201830511606
population level mitogenomics of long-lived bats reveals dynamic heteroplasmy and challenges the free radical theory of ageing.bats are the only mammals capable of true, powered flight, which drives an extremely high metabolic rate. the "free radical theory of ageing" (ftra) posits that a high metabolic rate causes mitochondrial heteroplasmy and the progressive ageing phenotype. contrary to this, bats are the longest-lived order of mammals given their small size and high metabolic rate. to investigate if bats exhibit increased mitochondrial heteroplasmy with age, we performed targeted, deep sequencing of mitogenomes and ...201830206380
correction to: bartonella and rickettsia infections in haematophagous spinturnix myoti mites (acari: mesostigmata) and their bat host, myotis myotis (yangochiroptera: vespertilionidae), from poland.the original version of this article published online (27 august 2018) unfortunately contained a mistake regarding an affiliation of dr. edyta podsiadły, one of the authors.201930194484
molecular and serological survey of lyssaviruses in croatian bat populations.rabies is the only known zoonotic disease of bat origin in europe. the disease is caused by species belonging to the genus lyssavirus. five lyssavirus species, i.e., european bat lyssavirus (eblv)-1, eblv-2, bokeloh bat lyssavirus, lleida bat lyssavirus, and west caucasian bat virus, have been identified in european bats. more recently, a proposed sixth species, kotalahti bat lyssavirus, was detected. thus, in this study, active surveillance was initiated in order to obtain insights into the pre ...201830189884
bartonella and rickettsia infections in haematophagous spinturnix myoti mites (acari: mesostigmata) and their bat host, myotis myotis (yangochiroptera: vespertilionidae), from poland.hematophagous spinturnix myoti mites and their host, the greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis), were tested for the presence of bartonella spp., rickettsia spp., and anaplasma phagocytophilum. in total, bartonella spp. dna was amplified in 28% of 134 mite pools and in 25% of 59 bats tested by pcr targeting a fragment of citrate synthase glta gen. adult mites were at least threefold more frequently infected compared to immature stages. the overall infection prevalence among mite pools from cave ...201930151669
long-term bat abundance in sagebrush steppe.bats of western north america face many threats, but little is known about current population changes in these mammals. we compiled 283 surveys from 49 hibernacula over 32 years to investigate population changes of townsend's big-eared bats (corynorhinus townsendii townsendii) and western small-footed myotis (myotis ciliolabrum) in idaho, usa. this area comprises some of the best bat habitat in the western usa, but is threatened by land-use change. bats in this area also face invasion by the pat ...201830115979
effect of torpor on host transcriptomic responses to a fungal pathogen in hibernating bats.hibernation, the use of prolonged torpor to depress metabolism, is employed by mammals to conserve resources during extended periods of extreme temperatures and/or resource limitation. mammalian hibernators arouse to euthermy periodically during torpor for reasons that are not well understood, and these arousals may facilitate immune processes. to determine whether arousals enable host responses to pathogens, we used dual rna-seq and a paired sampling approach to examine gene expression in a hib ...201830080945
the fecal bacterial microbiota of bats; slovenia.fecal samples were collected from 92 bats in slovenia, consisting of 12 different species, and the bacterial microbiota was assessed via next generation sequencing of the 16s rrna gene v4 region.201829791473
trace elements bioaccumulation in liver and fur of myotis myotis from two caves of the eastern side of sicily (italy): a comparison between a control and a polluted area.environmental pollution is a topic of great interest because it directly affects the quality of ecosystems and of all living organisms at different trophic and systematic levels. together with the global climate change, the long-term surviving of many species of plants and animals is threaten, distributional patterns at global and regional levels are altered and it results in local assemblages of species that are quite different from those that currently constitute coevolved communities. .for th ...201829751326
alterations in the health of hibernating bats under pathogen pressure.in underground hibernacula temperate northern hemisphere bats are exposed to pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal agent of white-nose syndrome. while pathological and epidemiological data suggest that palearctic bats tolerate this infection, we lack knowledge about bat health under pathogen pressure. here we report blood profiles, along with body mass index (bmi), infection intensity and hibernation temperature, in greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis). we sampled three european hibernacu ...201829666436
bats recovering from white-nose syndrome elevate metabolic rate during wing healing in spring.host responses to infection with novel pathogens are costly and require trade-offs among physiologic systems. one such pathogen is the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd) that causes white-nose syndrome (wns) and has led to mass mortality of hibernating bats in eastern north america. although infection with pd does not always result in death, we hypothesized that bats that survive infection suffer significant consequences that negatively impact the ability of females to reproduce. to unders ...201829617187
mitigating the negative impacts of tall wind turbines on bats: vertical activity profiles and relationships to wind speed.wind turbines represent a source of hazard for bats, especially through collision with rotor blades. with increasing technical development, tall turbines (rotor-swept zone 50-150 m above ground level) are becoming widespread, yet we lack quantitative information about species active at these heights, which impedes proposing targeted mitigation recommendations for bat-friendly turbine operation. we investigated vertical activity profiles of a bat assemblage, and their relationships to wind speed, ...201829561851
reduction of emission level in approach signals of greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis): no evidence for a closed loop control system for intensity compensation.bats lower the emission spl when approaching a target. the spl reduction has been explained by intensity compensation which implies that bats adjust the emission spl to perceive the retuning echoes at the same level. for a better understanding of this control mechanism we recorded the echolocation signals of four myotis myotis with an onboard microphone when foraging in the passive mode for rustling mealworms offered in two feeding dishes with different target strength, and determined the reduct ...201829543882
stereotypy and variability of social calls among clustering female big-footed myotis (myotis macrodactylus).echolocating bats have developed advanced auditory perception systems, predominantly using acoustic signaling to communicate with each other. they can emit a diverse range of social calls in complex behavioral contexts. this study examined the vocal repertoire of five pregnant big-footed myotis bats (myotis macrodactylus). in the process of clustering, the last individual to return to the colony (li) emitted social calls that correlated with behavior, as recorded on a pc-based digital recorder. ...201829515093
growing old, yet staying young: the role of telomeres in bats' exceptional longevity.understanding aging is a grand challenge in biology. exceptionally long-lived animals have mechanisms that underpin extreme longevity. telomeres are protective nucleotide repeats on chromosome tips that shorten with cell division, potentially limiting life span. bats are the longest-lived mammals for their size, but it is unknown whether their telomeres shorten. using >60 years of cumulative mark-recapture field data, we show that telomeres shorten with age inrhinolophus ferrumequinumandminiopte ...201829441358
is there a link between aging and microbiome diversity in exceptional mammalian longevity?a changing microbiome has been linked to biological aging in mice and humans, suggesting a possible role of gut flora in pathogenic aging phenotypes. many bat species have exceptional longevity given their body size and some can live up to ten times longer than expected with little signs of aging. this study explores the anal microbiome of the exceptionally long-livedmyotis myotisbat, investigating bacterial composition in both adult and juvenile bats to determine if the microbiome changes with ...201829333342
baseline and post-stress seasonal changes in immunocompetence and redox state maintenance in the fishing bat myotis vivesi.little is known of how the stress response varies when animals confront seasonal life-history processes. antioxidant defenses and damage caused by oxidative stress and their link with immunocompetence are powerful biomarkers to assess animal´s physiological stress response. the aim of this study was a) to determine redox state and variation in basal (pre-acute stress) immune function during summer, autumn and winter (spring was not assessed due to restrictions in collecting permit) in the fish-e ...201829293551
profiling the immunome of little brown myotis provides a yardstick for measuring the genetic response to white-nose syndrome.white-nose syndrome (wns) has devastated populations of hibernating bats in eastern north america, leading to emergency conservation listings for several species including the previously ubiquitous little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus). however, some bat populations near the epicenter of the wns panzootic appear to be stabilizing after initial precipitous declines, which could reflect a selective immunogenetic sweep. to investigate the hypothesis that wns exerts significant selection on the imm ...201729151862
longitudinal survey of two serotine bat (eptesicus serotinus) maternity colonies exposed to eblv-1 (european bat lyssavirus type 1): assessment of survival and serological status variations using capture-recapture models.this study describes two longitudinal serological surveys of european bat lyssavirus type 1 (eblv-1) antibodies in serotine bat (eptesicus serotinus) maternity colonies located in the north-east of france. this species is currently considered as the main eblv-1 reservoir. multievent capture-recapture models were used to determine the factors influencing bat rabies transmission as this method accounts for imperfect detection and uncertainty in disease states. considering the period of study, anal ...201729149215
prenatal development in greater mouse-eared bat, myotis myotis (borkhausen, 1797) (chiroptera, vespertilionidae).order chiroptera is the second largest mammal group after rodents. an understanding of the development of the bats, which is a very special mammal group in terms of their lifestyles, morphology and their ability to fly, is very important because most of the adult anatomical differences characterizing species occur during organogenesis. in this study, developmental stages were determined for myotis myotis species based on external morphological characteristics from embryos obtained from wild-caug ...201728984378
the other white-nose syndrome transcriptome: tolerant and susceptible hosts respond differently to the pathogen pseudogymnoascus destructans.mitigation of emerging infectious diseases that threaten global biodiversity requires an understanding of critical host and pathogen responses to infection. for multihost pathogens where pathogen virulence or host susceptibility is variable, host-pathogen interactions in tolerant species may identify potential avenues for adaptive evolution in recently exposed, susceptible hosts. for example, the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans causes white-nose syndrome (wns) in hibernating bats and is resp ...201728944007
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
simulated bat populations erode when exposed to climate change projections for western north america.recent research has demonstrated that temperature and precipitation conditions correlate with successful reproduction in some insectivorous bat species that live in arid and semiarid regions, and that hot and dry conditions correlate with reduced lactation and reproductive output by females of some species. however, the potential long-term impacts of climate-induced reproductive declines on bat populations in western north america are not well understood. we combined results from long-term field ...201728686737
food availability as a major driver in the evolution of life-history strategies of sibling species.life-history theory predicts trade-offs between reproductive and survival traits such that different strategies or environmental constraints may yield comparable lifetime reproductive success among conspecifics. food availability is one of the most important environmental factors shaping developmental processes. it notably affects key life-history components such as reproduction and survival prospect. we investigated whether food resource availability could also operate as an ultimate driver of ...201728649329
energy conserving thermoregulatory patterns and lower disease severity in a bat resistant to the impacts of white-nose syndrome.the devastating bat fungal disease, white-nose syndrome (wns), does not appear to affect all species equally. to experimentally determine susceptibility differences between species, we exposed hibernating naïve little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) and big brown bats (eptesicus fuscus) to the fungus that causes wns, pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd). after hibernating under identical conditions, pd lesions were significantly more prevalent and more severe in little brown myotis. this species di ...201728597237
helminth (cestoda, nematoda) and coccidian (apicomplexa: eimeriidae) parasites of the eastern small-footed myotis, myotis leibii (chiroptera: vespertilionidae) from arkansas, with a description of a new species of eimeria.during may and july 2016, 32 eastern small-footed myotis (myotis leibii) were collected from five counties of northwestern arkansas and their faeces examined for coccidian parasites. four of 32 (13%) m. leibii harboured an eimerian that we describe here as new. oocysts of eimeria sassei sp. n. were ovoidal to ellipsoidal with a bi-layered wall and measured (length × width, l × w) 18.3 × 15.2 µm, with an l/w ratio of 1.2. a micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but 1-2 polar granules were pre ...201728426407
novel coronaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses and circoviruses in insectivorous bats from northern china.bats are considered as the reservoirs of several emerging infectious disease, and novel viruses are continually found in bats all around the world. studies conducted in southern china found that bats carried a variety of viruses. however, few studies have been conducted on bats in northern china, which harbours a diversity of endemic insectivorous bats. it is important to understand the prevalence and diversity of viruses circulating in bats in northern china. in this study, a total of 145 insec ...201728371451
investigating hybridization between the two sibling bat species myotis myotis and m. blythii from guano in a natural mixed maternity colony.because they can form seasonal mixed-species groups during mating and maternal care, bats are exciting models for studying interspecific hybridization. myotis myotis and m. blythii are genetically close and morphologically almost identical, but they differ in some aspects of their ecology and life-history traits. when they occur in sympatry, they often form large mixed maternity colonies, in which their relative abundance can vary across time due to a shift in the timing of parturition. for the ...201728199337
immune responses in hibernating little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) with white-nose syndrome.white-nose syndrome (wns) is a fungal disease responsible for decimating many bat populations in north america. pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd), the psychrophilic fungus responsible for wns, prospers in the winter habitat of many hibernating bat species. the immune response that pd elicits in bats is not yet fully understood; antibodies are produced in response to infection by pd, but they may not be protective and indeed may be harmful. to understand how bats respond to infection during hiber ...201728179513
molecular detection of candidatus bartonella mayotimonensis in north american bats.candidatus bartonella mayotimonensis was detected in 2010 from an aortic valve sample of a patient with endocarditis from iowa, the united states of america. the environmental source of the potentially new endocarditis-causing bartonella remained elusive. we set out to study the prevalence and diversity of bat-associated bartonella in north america. during 2015, mist nets and harp traps were used to capture 92 bats belonging to two species: little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus le conte 1831, n  ...201728165925
pharmacokinetics of terbinafine in little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) infected with pseudogymnoascus destructans.objective to determine the pharmacokinetics of terbinafine in little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) infected with pseudogymnoascus destructans. animals 123 bats from a p destructans-infected hibernation site in virginia. procedures 3 bats were euthanized and necropsied to confirm the presence of p destructans within the population. the remaining 120 bats were systematically assigned to 6 groups (20 bats/group). bats in each of 3 groups received 6, 20, or 60 mg of terbinafine/kg, sc, once daily ...201728029293
deeply torpid bats can change position without elevation of body temperature.because body temperature is tightly coupled to physiological function, hibernating animals entering deep torpor are typically immobile. we analysed thermal behaviour and locomotory activity of hibernating greater mouse-eared bats myotis myotis and found two types of movement behaviour related to body temperature, i.e. movement at high fur temperature and at low fur temperatures (tflow; <5°c). first tflow movements appeared at the beginning of march and often occurred during long torpor bouts. in ...201728010809
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
blood mirnomes and transcriptomes reveal novel longevity mechanisms in the long-lived bat, myotis myotis.chiroptera, the bats, are the only order of mammals capable of true self-powered flight. bats exhibit a number of other exceptional traits such as echolocation, viral tolerance and, perhaps most puzzlingly, extreme longevity given their body size. little is known about the molecular mechanisms driving their extended longevity particularly at the levels of gene expression and post-transcriptional regulation. to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that may underlie their unusual longevity, we have ...201627832764
metabolic cost of the activation of immune response in the fish-eating myotis (myotis vivesi): the effects of inflammation and the acute phase response.inflammation and activation of the acute phase response (apr) are energetically demanding processes that protect against pathogens. phytohaemagglutinin (pha) and lipopolysaccharide (lps) are antigens commonly used to stimulate inflammation and the apr, respectively. we tested the hypothesis that the apr after an lps challenge was energetically more costly than the inflammatory response after a pha challenge in the fish-eating myotis bat (myotis vivesi). we measured resting metabolic rate (rmr) a ...201627792729
variation of parasitism patterns in bats during hibernation: the effect of host species, resources, health status, and hibernation period.during critical periods of food shortage or variable climatic conditions, the choice of an appropriate host can increase the survival and reproductive performance of parasites. in turn, one of the unique adaptations to periodical food shortages is hibernation, which is often found among insectivorous bat species in the temperate zone. while hibernating, bats are completely defenseless against both predators and ectoparasites, their immune and endocrine systems are diminished, and survival is dep ...201627240839
environment, host, and fungal traits predict continental-scale white-nose syndrome in bats.white-nose syndrome is a fungal disease killing bats in eastern north america, but disease is not seen in european bats and is less severe in some north american species. we show that how bats use energy during hibernation and fungal growth rates under different environmental conditions can explain how some bats are able to survive winter with infection and others are not. our study shows how simple but nonlinear interactions between fungal growth and bat energetics result in decreased survival ...201627152322
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
white-nose syndrome survivors do not exhibit frequent arousals associated with pseudogymnoascus destructans infection.white-nose syndrome (wns) has devastated bat populations in north america, with millions of bats dead. wns is associated with physiological changes in hibernating bats, leading to increased arousals from hibernation and premature consumption of fat reserves. however, there is evidence of surviving populations of little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) close to where the fungus was first detected nearly ten years ago.201626949407
effects of white-nose syndrome on regional population patterns of 3 hibernating bat species.hibernating bats have undergone severe recent declines across the eastern united states, but the cause of these regional-scale declines has not been systematically evaluated. we assessed the influence of white-nose syndrome (an emerging bat disease caused by the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans, formerly geomyces destructans) on large-scale, long-term population patterns in the little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus), the northern myotis (myotis septentrionalis), and the tricolored bat (perimy ...201626872411
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
the complete mitochondrial genome of the greater mouse-eared bat, myotis myotis (chiroptera: vespertilionidae).in this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of the greater mouse-eared bat, myotis myotis. the mitogenome is 17 213 bp with base composition a (34.2%), g (13%), c (22.4%), and t (30.5%). the genome shows conserved synteny with other mammalian mitogenomes, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal rna genes, 22 transfer rna genes, and 1 control region (d-loop). the majority of the genes are encoded on the h-strand, except for nd6 and eight trnas. all protein-coding genes star ...201726713722
gene structure and evolution of transthyretin in the order chiroptera.bats are mammals in the order chiroptera. although many extensive morphologic and molecular genetics analyses have been attempted, phylogenetic relationships of bats has not been completely resolved. the paraphyly of microbats is of particular controversy that needs to be confirmed. in this study, we attempted to use the nucleotide sequence of transthyretin (ttr) intron 1 to resolve the relationship among bats. to explore its utility, the complete sequences of ttr gene and intron 1 region of bat ...201626681450
plasma proteomic analysis of active and torpid greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis).hibernation is a physiological adaptation to overcome extreme environmental conditions. it is characterized by prolonged periods of torpor interrupted by temporary arousals during winter. during torpor, body functions are suppressed and restored rapidly to almost pre-hibernation levels during arousal. although molecular studies have been performed on hibernating rodents and bears, it is unclear how generalizable the results are among hibernating species with different physiology such as bats. as ...201526586174
first record of ixodes ariadnae in germany - short communication.a long-legged tick was collected from a hibernating greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis) in baden-württemberg, germany. based on morphological characteristics as well as on partial coi and 16s rdna gene sequences the tick was identified as an engorged female of ixodes ariadnae. the greater mouseeared bat is a new host record for this tick species. taking into account the geographical position of the collection site and the known migration distance of the greater mouse-eared bat, the present d ...201526551424
the white-nose syndrome transcriptome: activation of anti-fungal host responses in wing tissue of hibernating little brown myotis.white-nose syndrome (wns) in north american bats is caused by an invasive cutaneous infection by the psychrophilic fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd). we compared transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression using rna-seq on wing skin tissue from hibernating little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) with wns to bats without pd exposure. we found that wns caused significant changes in gene expression in hibernating bats including pathways involved in inflammation, wound healing, and metabolis ...201526426272
population genetic structure of a common host predicts the spread of white-nose syndrome, an emerging infectious disease in bats.landscape complexity influences patterns of animal dispersal, which in turn may affect both gene flow and the spread of pathogens. white-nose syndrome (wns) is an introduced fungal disease that has spread rapidly throughout eastern north america, causing massive mortality in bat populations. we tested for a relationship between the population genetic structure of the most common host, the little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus), and the geographic spread of wns to date by evaluating logistic regr ...201526407297
a nonlethal sampling method to obtain, generate and assemble whole blood transcriptomes from small, wild mammals.the acquisition of tissue samples from wild populations is a constant challenge in conservation biology, especially for endangered species and protected species where nonlethal sampling is the only option. whole blood has been suggested as a nonlethal sample type that contains a high percentage of bodywide and genomewide transcripts and therefore can be used to assess the transcriptional status of an individual, and to infer a high percentage of the genome. however, only limited quantities of bl ...201626186236
situational and age-dependent decision making during life threatening distress in myotis macrodactylus.echolocation and audiovocal communication have been studied extensively in bats. the manner in which these abilities are incorporated within escape behaviors during life-threatening distress is largely unknown. here we tested the hypothesis that behavioral response profiles expressed during distress are relatively stereotypic given their evolutionary adaptations to avoid predators. we subjected juvenile and adult big-footed myotis (myotis macrodactylus) to a sequence of three types of life threa ...201526181328
antibodies to pseudogymnoascus destructans are not sufficient for protection against white-nose syndrome.white-nose syndrome (wns) is a fungal disease caused by pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd) that affects bats during hibernation. although millions of bats have died from wns in north america, mass mortality has not been observed among european bats infected by the fungus, leading to the suggestion that bats in europe are immune. we tested the hypothesis that an antibody-mediated immune response can provide protection against wns by quantifying antibodies reactive to pd in blood samples from seven ...201526078857
sex and hibernaculum temperature predict survivorship in white-nose syndrome affected little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus).white-nose syndrome (wns), an emerging infectious disease caused by the novel fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans, has devastated north american bat populations since its discovery in 2006. the little brown myotis, myotis lucifugus, has been especially affected. the goal of this 2-year captive study was to determine the impact of hibernacula temperature and sex on wns survivorship in little brown myotis that displayed visible fungal infection when collected from affected hibernacula. in study 1, ...201526064604
wax ester analysis of bats suffering from white nose syndrome in europe.the composition of wax esters (we) in the fur of adult greater mouse-eared bats (myotis myotis), either healthy or suffering from white nose syndrome (wns) caused by the psychrophilic fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans, was investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis in the positive ion mode. profiling of lipid classes showed that we are the most abundant lipid class, followed by cholesterol esters, and other lipid classes, e.g., triacylglycerols and phospholipids. we abundance i ...201525975369
the cost of digestion in the fish-eating myotis (myotis vivesi).flying vertebrates, such as bats, face special challenges with regards to the throughput and digestion of food. on the one hand, as potentially energy-limited organisms, bats must ingest and assimilate energy efficiently in order to satisfy high resting and active metabolic demands. on the other hand, the assimilation of nutrients must be accomplished using a digestive tract that is, compared with that of similarly sized non-flying vertebrates, significantly shorter. despite these competing dema ...201525911733
parasite diversity of european myotis species with special emphasis on myotis myotis (microchiroptera, vespertilionidae) from a typical nursery roost.bats belong to one of the most species-rich orders within the mammalia. they show a worldwide distribution, a high degree of ecological diversification as well as a high diversity of associated parasites and pathogens. despite their prominent and unique role, the knowledge of their parasite-host-relationships as well as the mechanisms of co-evolutionary processes are, partly due to strict conservation regulations, scarce.201525880235
differences between populations of spinturnix myoti (acari: mesostigmata) in breeding and non-breeding colonies of myotis myotis (chiroptera) in central europe: the effect of roost type.we studied variations in the abundance of parasitic spinturnicid mites in relation to the gender, age and body condition of bats living in different habitats. populations of spinturnix myoti kolenati, 1856 (acari: spinturnicidae), an ectoparasite of the bat myotis myotis (borkhausen) (mammalia: chiroptera), were investigated in two types of roosts differing in microclimatic conditions: caves (low temperature and high humidity) and attics (high temperature and low humidity). our data suggest that ...201425651701
bat and pig ifn-induced transmembrane protein 3 restrict cell entry by influenza virus and lyssaviruses.ifn-induced transmembrane protein 3 (ifitm3) is a restriction factor that blocks cytosolic entry of numerous viruses that utilize acidic endosomal entry pathways. in humans and mice, ifitm3 limits influenza-induced morbidity and mortality. although many ifitm3-sensitive viruses are zoonotic, whether ifitms function as antiviral restriction factors in mammalian species other than humans and mice is unknown. here, ifitm3 orthologues in the microbat (myotis myotis) and pig (sus scrofa domesticus) w ...201525614588
the effect of hibernation on the morphology and histochemistry of the intestine of the greater mouse-eared bat, myotis myotis.seasonal variations in morphometry and histochemistry of the intestine have been examined in the active and hibernating greater mouse-eared bat, myotis myotis, using histological and histochemical techniques. the results of morphometric analyses indicated that hibernation affected the villus height, villus width, crypt depth and crypt width of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. histochemical analysis showed that goblet cells of the small and large intestine contain acidic and neutral mucosubstance ...201425456312
host, pathogen, and environmental characteristics predict white-nose syndrome mortality in captive little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus).an estimated 5.7 million or more bats died in north america between 2006 and 2012 due to infection with the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd) that causes white-nose syndrome (wns) during hibernation. the behavioral and physiological changes associated with hibernation leave bats vulnerable to wns, but the persistence of bats within the contaminated regions of north america suggests that survival might vary predictably among individuals or in relation to environmental conditions. to invest ...201425409028
do greater mouse-eared bats experience a trade-off between energy conservation and learning?bats, some species of rodents and some birds are able to save energy during the summer period by decreasing their body temperature and falling into torpor. some studies indicate that torpor prevents sleeping and causes effects similar to sleep deprivation. impairment of processes stabilizing memory slows down learning accuracy and speed. we conducted two experiments to test whether greater mouse-eared bats, myotis myotis, which commonly use torpor during the summer period, experience a trade-off ...201425392460
establishment of myotis myotis cell lines--model for investigation of host-pathogen interaction in a natural host for emerging viruses.bats are found to be the natural reservoirs for many emerging viruses. in most cases, severe clinical signs caused by such virus infections are normally not seen in bats. this indicates differences in the virus-host interactions and underlines the necessity to develop natural host related models to study these phenomena. due to the strict protection of european bat species, immortalized cell lines are the only alternative to investigate the innate anti-virus immune mechanisms. here, we report ab ...201425295526
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
dynamic adjustment of echolocation pulse structure of big-footed myotis (myotis macrodactylus) in response to different habitats.studying relationships between characteristics of sonar pulses and habitat clutter level is important for the understanding of signal design in bat echolocation. however, most studies have focused on overall spectral and temporal parameters of such vocalizations, with focus less on potential variation in frequency modulation rates (mrs) occurring within each pulse. in the current study, frequency modulation (fm) characteristics were examined in echolocation pulses recorded from big-footed myotis ...201425234900
karyotype evolution in the horseshoe bat rhinolophus sedulus by whole-arm reciprocal translocation (wart).robertsonian (centric) fusion or fission is one of the predominant modes of chromosomal rearrangement in karyotype evolution among mammals. however, in karyotypes composed of only bi-armed chromosomes, creation of new chromosomal arm combinations in one step is possible only via whole-arm reciprocal translocation (wart). although this type of rearrangement has often been proposed to play an important role in chromosomal evolution, direct observations of warts remained rare, and, in most cases, w ...201425139053
a functional role of the sky's polarization pattern for orientation in the greater mouse-eared bat.animals can call on a multitude of sensory information to orient and navigate. one such cue is the pattern of polarized light in the sky, which for example can be used by birds as a geographical reference to calibrate other cues in the compass mechanism. here we demonstrate that the female greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis) uses polarization cues at sunset to calibrate a magnetic compass, which is subsequently used for orientation during a homing experiment. this renders bats the only mamma ...201425050897
white-nose syndrome fungus: a generalist pathogen of hibernating bats.host traits and phylogeny can determine infection risk by driving pathogen transmission and its ability to infect new hosts. predicting such risks is critical when designing disease mitigation strategies, and especially as regards wildlife, where intensive management is often advocated or prevented by economic and/or practical reasons. we investigated pseudogymnoascus [geomyces] destructans infection, the cause of white-nose syndrome (wns), in relation to chiropteran ecology, behaviour and phylo ...201424820101
insights into persistence mechanisms of a zoonotic virus in bat colonies using a multispecies metapopulation model.rabies is a worldwide zoonosis resulting from lyssavirus infection. in europe, eptesicus serotinus is the most frequently reported bat species infected with lyssavirus, and thus considered to be the reservoir of european bat lyssavirus type 1 (eblv-1). to date, the role of other bat species in eblv-1 epidemiology and persistence remains unknown. here, we built an eblv-1-transmission model based on local observations of a three-cave and four-bat species (myotis capaccinii, myotis myotis, miniopte ...201424755619
is parasite load dependent on host aggregation size? the case of the greater mouse-eared bat myotis myotis (mammalia: chiroptera) and its parasitic mite spinturnix myoti (acari: gamasida).the risk of parasite infection grows with the size of host aggregations, which, in turn, may also depend on host sex and age and the quality of environmental resources. herein, we studied the relationship between ectoparasitic infections with the wing mite (spinturnix myoti) and the size of the breeding colonies, sex, age, and body condition index (bci) of its host, the greater mouse-eared bat (myotis myotis). the influence of environmental quality in the carpathian mountains (poland) was also e ...201424604385
white-nose syndrome-affected little brown myotis (myotis lucifugus) increase grooming and other active behaviors during arousals from hibernation.white-nose syndrome (wns) is an emerging infectious disease of hibernating bats linked to the death of an estimated 5.7 million or more bats in the northeastern united states and canada. white-nose syndrome is caused by the cold-loving fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans (pd), which invades the skin of the muzzles, ears, and wings of hibernating bats. previous work has shown that wns-affected bats arouse to euthermic or near euthermic temperatures during hibernation significantly more frequently ...201324502712
the effect of host social system on parasite population genetic structure: comparative population genetics of two ectoparasitic mites and their bat hosts.the population genetic structure of a parasite, and consequently its ability to adapt to a given host, is strongly linked to its own life history as well as the life history of its host. while the effects of parasite life history on their population genetic structure have received some attention, the effect of host social system has remained largely unstudied. in this study, we investigated the population genetic structure of two closely related parasitic mite species (spinturnix myoti and spint ...201424479530
tracking diet preferences of bats using stable isotope and fatty acid signatures of faeces.stable isotope and fatty acid signatures of biomaterials can provide important information about the dietary niche of animals. stable isotope and fatty acid signatures differ between aquatic and terrestrial food webs, and therefore can be used to assess the aquatic and terrestrial contributions to the diets of species. we studied faecal samples of three co-occurring bat species with known differences in feeding preferences. the aim was to assess whether stable isotope and fatty acid signatures o ...201324376703
are torpid bats immune to anthropogenic noise?anthropogenic noise has a negative impact on a variety of animals. however, many bat species roost in places with high levels of anthropogenic noise. here, we tested the hypothesis that torpid bats are insensitive to anthropogenic noise. in a laboratory experiment, we recorded skin temperature (tsk) of bats roosting individually that were subjected to playbacks of different types of noise. we found that torpid bats with tsk ~10°c lower than their active tsk responded to all types of noise by ele ...201424311817
bioaccumulation of selected organochlorines in bats and tits: influence of chemistry and biology.we analyzed six organochlorine compounds (hcb, lindane, p,p'-dde, pcb # 138, #153, and # 180) from populations of the european great tit (parus major) and from five species of bats (pipistrellus pipistrellus, nyctalus noctula, plecotus auritus, plecotus austriacus, myotis myotis). a weak positive correlation between kow (n-octanol /water partition coefficient) and bioaccumulation (measured as residue values) was found within each species. however, the ratio of the concentrations in bats compared ...199524234684
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
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