Article
Infectious Diseases
Hui-Ju Han, Ze-Min Li, Xia Li, Jian-Xiao Liu, Qiu-Ming Peng, Rui Wang, Xiao-Lan Gu, Yuan Jiang, Chuan-Min Zhou, Dan Li, Xiao Xiao, Xue-Jie Yu
Summary: The study identified diverse Bartonella genotypes in bats and their ectoparasites in Hubei Province, Central China, suggesting potential roles of bat flies and bat mites as carriers of Bartonella, with bat flies potentially contributing to the higher genetic diversity of Bartonella due to vertical transmission. Additionally, human-pathogenic B. mayotimonesis was found in both bats and their ectoparasites, expanding knowledge on the geographic distribution of this bacterium.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Anna C. Fagre, Ausraful Islam, Will K. Reeves, Rebekah C. Kading, Raina K. Plowright, Emily S. Gurley, Clifton D. Mckee
Summary: This study investigated the dynamics of Bartonella bacteria in bat blood and bat flies in a roost in Faridpur, Bangladesh. The results showed a high prevalence of Bartonella DNA in both bat blood and bat flies, with an increase in infection rate over time in the bat blood, suggesting that bat flies may serve as vectors for this pathogen.
Article
Microbiology
Attila D. Sandor, Aron Peter, Alexandra Corduneanu, Levente Barti, Istvan Csosz, Zsuzsa Kalmar, Sandor Hornok, Jeno Kontschan, Andrei D. Mihalca
Summary: The study found Polychromophilus parasites in bats in Eastern Europe, with infections mainly limited to cave-dwelling bat species and a strong correlation with Nycteribiidae prevalence. There was high genetic diversity of Polychromophilus spp. in the region, suggesting that varied host and vector assemblages may enhance bat haemosporidian parasite diversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabor Kemenesi, Gabor E. Toth, Martin Mayora-Neto, Simon Scott, Nigel Temperton, Edward Wright, Elke Muhlberger, Adam J. Hume, Ellen L. Suder, Brigitta Zana, Sandor A. Boldogh, Tamas Gorfol, Peter Estok, Zsofia Lanszki, Balazs A. Somogyi, Agnes Nagy, Csaba Pereszlenyi, Gabor Dudas, Fanni Foldes, Kornelia Kurucz, Monika Madai, Safia Zeghbib, Piet Maes, Bert Vanmechelen, Ferenc Jakab
Summary: The study reveals that Lloviu virus is a tropical virus that can infect humans and was first identified in Schreiber's bats in Europe. The researchers also found Lloviu virus RNA in ectoparasites of the bats. These findings support the role of bats as hosts for Lloviu virus in Europe.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Evgeny Genelt-Yanovskiy, Yixuan Li, Ekaterina Stratanenko, Natalia Zhuravleva, Natalia Strelkova, Qinzeng Xu, Sophia Nazarova
Summary: The study revealed high genetic diversity of Ophiura sarsii in the Barents Sea, with both major Atlantic mtDNA lineages evenly distributed in the region.
Article
Ecology
Aron Peter, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Danny Haelewaters, Attila D. Sandor
Summary: This study investigated the tritrophic association of bats, bat flies, and Laboulbeniales microfungi and found that bat host behavior, roost selection, bat fly sex, and season all have significant effects on the prevalence of fungal infection.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Laura A. Najera-Cortazar, Alex Keen, Thomas Kitching, Drew Stokes, Simon J. Goodman
Summary: This study characterized ectoparasite diversity for 17 species of parasitized bats in Northwestern Mexico and the Baja California peninsula. Multiple novel lineages of bat bugs, flies, and ticks were discovered, with genetic divergence suggesting separations at least at the species level. The study provides the first systematic survey of bat ectoparasites in the Baja California peninsula, revealing highly genetically differentiated lineages.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmet Karatas, Ferhat Toprak
Summary: This study identifies six mite species, including two new records, on bat specimens collected in different parts of Turkey.
KUWAIT JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mackenzie L. Kwak, Vanessa Gorecki, Gregory Markowsky
Summary: Urbanisation has significant effects on the abundance of parasitic arthropods on bats, with differences in the life history of different species contributing to variations in infestation patterns.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Eder Barbier, Fabio Falcao, Enrico Bernard
Summary: This study in the Caatinga region of Brazil focused on the host-parasite relationship between bats and their ectoparasitic flies. The findings revealed that the bat flies were highly host-specific, had an aggregated distribution, often formed infracommunities with only one species, and showed a male-biased sex ratio. While some fly species showed increased prevalence on certain bat species during the rainy season, overall the bat flies did not exhibit a preference for host sex, and their interspecific relationships were not affected by rainfall. Further investigation is needed to understand other variables that may be influencing this host-parasite relationship, particularly in environments with significant seasonal variation like the Caatinga.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aron Peter, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Attila D. Sandor
Summary: This study reports the first country-record of the rare nycteribiid species Basilia italica infesting primarily forest-dwelling bats in Romania, representing the easternmost occurrence of this species. Further studies are needed to evaluate the vectorial potential of B. italica.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joshua Kamani, Javier Gonzalez-Miguel, Emmanuel G. G. Msheliza, Tony L. L. Goldberg
Summary: The study found that straw-colored fruit bats and their bat flies carry some new viruses, some of which are specific to bats or insects, while others may be transmitted between bats and arthropods.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Maximo Correa Alcantara, Priscila Ikeda, Camila Silveira Souza, Victoria Valente Califre de Mello, Jaire Marinho Torres, Elizabete Captivo Lourenco, Ricardo Bassini-Silva, Heitor Miraglia Herrera, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti, Gustavo Graciolli, Marcos Rogerio Andre
Summary: The study investigates a multilayer network in Brazil formed by interactions between bats, ectoparasites, and bacteria. Specific species were found to play crucial roles in the structure of the multilayer network. By using a multilayer approach, the study provides a better understanding of the roles of bats and ectoparasites as potential vectors and reservoirs of pathogens, as well as the modes of transmission.
Article
Parasitology
Huiying Chen, Haowei Dong, Hao Yuan, Wenqi Shan, Qiuming Zhou, Xiangyu Li, Heng Peng, Yajun Ma
Summary: The accurate identification of sandfly species is crucial due to their role in transmitting medically significant diseases. However, conventional identification methods are time consuming and require experienced staff. This study investigates the use of DNA barcodes to identify common sandfly species in China and finds that mitochondrial DNA markers are effective in distinguishing these species.
Article
Parasitology
Daniel Grabner, Annemie Doliwa, Lidia Sworobowicz, Anna Wysocka, Alexander Weigand, Michal Grabowski, Tomasz Mamos, Bernd Sures
Summary: This study conducted a molecular survey on microsporidian diversity in Asellus aquaticus from various sites in Europe. The results showed that microsporidians were abundant and diverse in A. aquaticus, but did not exhibit obvious patterns related to host genetic lineages or geography.
Article
Ecology
Gabriella Krivek, Brian Schulze, Peter Zs Poloskei, Karina Frankowski, Xenia Mathgen, Aenne Douwes, Jaap van Schaik
Summary: The study found that the use of camera traps with white flash at hibernation sites did not significantly affect bat activity, flight direction, or echolocation behavior. However, an increase in rain was associated with a decrease in nightly bat activity, and flight direction was influenced by the presence of other bats. These findings suggest that camera traps with white flash triggered by infrared light barriers are a minimally invasive method for long-term bat population monitoring.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Marija Rajicic, Alexey Makunin, Tanja Adnadevic, Vladimir Trifonov, Mladen Vujosevic, Jelena Blagojevic
Summary: Bs in Apodemus flavicollis are genetically similar across geographically distinct populations and play a significant role in gene expression, particularly for genes related to age and sex. The preservation of Bs in all samples indicates their biological importance and challenges the notion that Bs are genetically inert.
Article
Biology
Peter M. Kappeler, Sarah Benhaiem, Claudia Fichtel, Lutz Fromhage, Oliver P. Hoener, Michael D. Jennions, Sylvia Kaiser, Oliver Krueger, Jutta M. Schneider, Cristina Tuni, Jaap van Schaik, Wolfgang Goymann
Summary: In species with separate sexes, females and males often have different characteristics and behaviors that are linked to reproductive competition, mate choice, and parental care. The variation in adult sex ratio (ASR) is found to be a key factor influencing sex roles within and across species. This article discusses the historical emergence of the sex role concept, reviews the different sex ratios with a focus on ASR, and examines the causes and consequences of biased ASRs on various aspects of animal behavior and physiology, emphasizing the sensitivity of animals to local ASR variation on short timescales.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Milan Miljevic, Borislav Cabrilo, Ivana Budinski, Marija Rajicic, Branka Bajic, Olivera Bjelic-Cabrilo, Jelena Blagojevic
Summary: This study analyzed intestinal nematodes in three small rodent species and found that animals in better condition had higher parasite species richness. In A. flavicollis, females had more parasite species than males of the same body condition. Contrary to expectations, spleen mass did not reflect changes in parasitism level, but in M. glareolus, a smaller spleen was related to a higher parasite load.
Article
Ecology
Christine Reusch, Alexander Scheuerlein, Leo Grosche, Frauke Meier, Jutta Gampe, Melanie Dammhahn, Jaap van Schaik, Gerald Kerth
Summary: Hibernation is an important adaptation to changing environmental conditions in animals. This study investigated the plastic adjustments and mortality costs associated with hibernation in two bat species. The timing of hibernation departure was found to vary between and within individuals, and was adjusted in response to weather conditions. Early departure from hibernation was associated with higher mortality rates. These findings highlight the potential for individual plasticity in hibernating species, but also the importance of timing for survival.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
G. Krivek, E. P. N. Mahecha, F. Meier, G. Kerth, J. van Schaik
Summary: Accurate population estimates are crucial for conservation policy, but difficult to collect, especially for elusive species. This study demonstrates that infrared light barriers can accurately estimate the size and trends of bat populations, even in complex or inaccessible hibernacula where visual counts fall short.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adria Lopez-Baucells, Natalia Revilla-Martin, Maria Mas, Pedro Alonso-Alonso, Ivana Budinski, Sara Fraixedas, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares
Summary: The media plays a crucial role in shaping people's attitudes towards conservation issues. Understanding how bats are portrayed in the media is important for bat conservation, especially given recent fearmongering and misinformation about bat-related risks. In this study, we reviewed bat-related articles published in 15 newspapers from Western Europe's five most populated countries before 2019. We analyzed the portrayal of bats as a threat to human health, the general attitudes towards bats in these articles, and the readers' responses.
Article
Parasitology
Branka Bajic, Oskar Werb, Ivana Budinski, Jelena Blagojevic, Juliane Schaer, Jaap van Schaik
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of Polychromophilus parasites in European bats and their nycteribiid vectors. A total of 215 bat flies collected from two bat species in Serbia were screened for Polychromophilus infections and analyzed by gene sequencing. The results showed a high diversity of P. melanipherus parasites in Miniopterus hosts and suggested regular encounter with this parasite in secondary hosts.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gabriella Krivek, Alexander Gillert, Martin Harder, Marcus Fritze, Karina Frankowski, Luisa Timm, Liska Meyer-Olbersleben, Uwe Freiherr von Lukas, Gerald Kerth, Jaap van Schaik
Summary: Automated monitoring technologies, such as BatNet, can efficiently collect ecological data and support conservation efforts. BatNet is an open-source, deep learning-based tool that automatically identifies European bat species from camera trap images. It can be retrained to identify new species or create site-specific models, improving detection accuracy.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Milan Miljevic, Marija Rajicic, Gerald Umhang, Branka Bajic, Olivera Bjelic Cabrilo, Ivana Budinski, Jelena Blagojevic
Summary: This study identified and explored the genetic diversity of Hydatigera and other taeniid species. The researchers found four taeniid species, including Hydatigera kamiyai and H. taeniaeformis sensu stricto (s.s.). The study contributes to the understanding of genetic diversity, host suitability, and geographic distribution of these tapeworm species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Marija Rajicic, Ivana Budinski, Milan Miljevic, Branka Bajic, Milan Paunovic, Mladen Vujosevic, Jelena Blagojevic
Summary: B chromosomes are additional chromosomes beyond the standard chromosome set, and Leisler's bat is one of the few bat species with detected B chromosomes. The number of B chromosomes varies among individuals and populations, as well as within individual cells. B chromosomes are more common in rodents than in bats.
COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETICS
(2022)
