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BACKGROUND: Although hantaviruses have long been associated with rodents, they are also described in other mammalian hosts, such as shrews, moles and bats. Hantaviruses associated with bats have been described in Asian, European and Brazilian species of bats. As these mammals represent the second major mammalian order, and they are the major mammals that inhabit urban areas, it is extremely important to maintain a viral surveillance in these animals. Our aim was to conduct serosurveillance in bats in an urban area in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, to contribute to the information about hantaviruses circulation in bats. METHODS: We analyzed samples from 778 neotropical bat specimens classified into 21 bat species and four different families collected in the urban area of Ribeirão Preto city, from 2014 to 2019 by an ELISA for the detection of IgG antibodies against orthohantavirus. RESULTS: We detected IgG-specific antibodies against the nucleoprotein of orthohantavirus in 0.9% (7/778) bats tested, including four Molossus molossus (Pallas' Free-tailed Bat), two Glossophaga soricina (Pallas's Long-tongued Bat) and one Eumops glaucinus (Wagner's mastiff bat). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results show the first serological evidence of hantavirus infection in three common bat species in urban areas.

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The genus Bartonella comprises gram-negative bacilli that possess tropism for erythrocytes and endothelial cells in animals of the orders Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Eulipotyphla, and Chiroptera. Bacterial infection may be associated with lymphadenitis, endocarditis, bacillary angiomatosis, and peliosis hepatis. Thirteen species of Bartonella are recognized as zoonotic and bats are considered to be their potential reservoirs. This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in livers of neotropical bats belonging to the families Molossidae, Phyllostomidae, and Vespertilionidae, classified into 21 genera from the Atlantic Forest biome in São Paulo. A total of 341 (n = 341) chiropterans samples were tested for the presence of citrate synthase (gltA) gene of Bartonella by partial amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Samples of two bats (0.6%) of the species Glossophaga soricina from the municipality of São Roque were tested positive for gltA gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that sequences clustered in a clade that was close to the Bartonella sp. detected in G. soricina, which was collected from the Cerrado biome in Tocantins, Brazil. Despite a low prevalence of the detected infection, results indicated that neotropical bats from the Atlantic Forest were potential hosts of Bartonella spp., which might be related to the maintenance of a wild enzootic cycle of the bacterium. Additional studies, particularly on bats of genus Glossophaga, are required to elucidate the dynamics of intraspecific relationships between etiologic agent-vector-hosts.

O gênero Bartonella compreende bacilos gram-negativos que possuem tropismo por eritrócitos e células endoteliais em animais das ordens Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Eulipotyphla e Chiroptera. A infecção bacteriana pode estar associada a linfadenite, endocardite, angiomatose bacilar e peliose hepática. Treze espécies de Bartonella são reconhecidas como zoonóticas e os morcegos são considerados seus potenciais reservatórios. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a ocorrência de Bartonella spp. em fígados de morcegos neotropicais pertencentes às famílias Molossidae, Phyllostomidae e Vespertilionidae, classificados em 21 gêneros do bioma Mata Atlântica em São Paulo. Um total de 341 (n = 341) amostras de quirópteros foram testados para a presença do gene da citrato sintase (gltA) de Bartonella por amplificação parcial usando reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Amostras de dois morcegos (0,6%) da espécie Glossophaga soricina do município de São Roque foram testadas positivas para o gene gltA. A análise filogenética indicou que as sequências agrupadas em um clado próximo ao de Bartonella sp. detectada em G. soricina, que foi coletada no bioma Cerrado no Tocantins, Brasil. Apesar da baixa prevalência da infecção detectada, os resultados indicaram que os morcegos neotropicais da Mata Atlântica eram potenciais hospedeiros de Bartonella spp., o que pode estar relacionado à manutenção de um ciclo enzoótico selvagem da bactéria. Estudos adicionais, particularmente em morcegos do gênero Glossophaga, são necessários para elucidar a dinâmica das relações intraespecíficas entre agente etiológico-vetor-hospedeiro.

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In order to determine whether southern Amazonian bats could harbour hantaviruses we, serologically and molecularly, screened blood, saliva, excreta and organ tissues of 47 bats captured from September to December 2015. We found that only phyllostomid bats presented antibodies against hantavirus. The seropositive bats belonged to two species of Phyllostomid bats: the greater spear-nosed bat Phyllostomus hastatus (omnivorous) and the gnome fruit-eating bat Dermanura gnoma. The overall seroprevalence was of 4.2%. Therefore, we show here that hantaviruses are circulating among phyllostomid bats in the Amazonian arc of deforestation.

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Abstract:The strong link between bats and their roosts is widely recognized as being particularly significant. Despite this, roosting ecology of bats is poorly understood and much of the basic information is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the availability and occupation patterns of four roost types (trees, caves, termite nests and tents) used by bats at Tirimbina Biological Reserve (TBR), Costa Rica. To accomplish our aim, we systematically surveyed both sides of established trails and transects, looking for understory roosts. Potential roosts were examined for bat presence in order to establish occupation. Roost availability and density were estimated using traveled distances (km) and inspected area (10 m for trees/caves and 15 m for tents/termite nests) of each trail or transect sampled. For the tent roosts, data on taxonomic information of plant modified, type of architecture, condition and construction achievement were also recorded. The area surveyed represented 45.4 % of the total area of the TBR (345 ha). Tents were the most common roost (56.6 % of all roosts, N = 223), followed by trees (24.4 %, N = 96), termite nests (18.8 %, N = 74) and caves (0.2 %, N = 1). We detected only 27 roosts occupied by bats (6.8 % of all roosts, 0.17 occupied roosts/ha). Caves showed the highest occupation rate (100 %, N = 1), followed by trees (17.7 %, N = 17), tents (3.6 %, N = 8) and termite nests (1.3 %, N = 1). We found the roosts for 10 species, representing 33.9 % of the bat fauna documented at the reserve (62 species). Density of roosts per bat species varied between 0.017-0.138 roosts/ha. Phyllostomidae was the best-represented family with Micronycteris microtis representing the most common species encountered. Four distinct tent architectures were documented. Bifid architecture was the most common (133 tents), followed by Conical (47 tents), Apical (27 tents) and Inverted Boat (16 tents). Most of the tents found were healthy (76.7 %, N = 171) and totally constructed (88.8 %, N = 198). Our study demonstrated that occupied bat roosts are difficult to find in the forest. When compared to the roost availability, the low occupation rates suggested that, at least in our study area, roosts might not be a limiting resource. Nevertheless, to confirm this hypothesis, information about fidelity and selection process of the species is fundamental for understanding to what extent these roosts meet the requirements to be inhabited or modified. Worldwide conservation efforts on bats should focus on understanding roosting ecology, especially due to anthropogenic pressures that are continuously reducing the availability of roosts, which undoubtedly contributes to the risk of extinction for specialized and sensitive species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1333-1343. Epub 2016 September 01.

ResumenLa estrecha relación entre los murciélagos y sus refugios es ampliamente reconocida por ser de particular importancia. A pesar de esto, la ecología de los refugios en murciélagos es pobremente comprendida y gran parte de la información básica aún es desconocida. En este estudio, investigamos la disponibilidad y los patrones de ocupación de cuatro tipos de refugios (árboles, cuevas, termiteros y tiendas) utilizados por los murciélagos en la Reserva Biológica Tirimbina (RBT), Costa Rica. Para lograr nuestro objetivo, nosotros inspeccionamos sistemáticamente ambos lados de senderos establecidos y transectos, en busca de refugios a nivel del sotobosque. Los refugios potenciales fueron examinados en busca de murciélagos con el fin de establecer la ocupación de los mismos. La disponibilidad y densidad de los refugios fue estimada utilizando la distancia recorrida (km) y el área inspeccionada (10 m para árboles/cuevas y 15 m para tiendas/termiteros) de cada sendero o transecto muestreado. Para los refugios en tiendas, también se registraron datos sobre información taxonómica de la planta modificada, el tipo de arquitectura, la condición y la consecución de la construcción. El área inspeccionada representa el 45.4 % del área total de la RBT (345 ha). Las tiendas fueron el refugio más común (56.6 % de todos los refugios, N = 223), seguido por los árboles (24.4 %, N = 96), los termiteros (18.8 %, N = 74) y las cuevas (0.2 %, N = 1). Detectamos únicamente 27 refugios ocupados por murciélagos (6.8 % de todos los refugios, 0.17 refugios ocupados/ha). Las cuevas mostraron la tasa más alta de ocupación (100 %, N = 1), seguido por los árboles (17.7 %, N = 17), las tiendas (3.6 %, N = 8) y los termiteros (1.3 %, N = 1). Encontramos los refugios de 10 especies, lo que representa un 33.9 % de la fauna de murciélagos documentada en la reserva (62 especies). La densidad de refugios por especie de murciélago varió entre 0.017-0.138 refugios/ha. Phyllostomidae fue la familia mejor representada, con Micronycteris microtis como la especie más común encontrada en los refugios. Cuatro tipos de arquitectura fueron documentadas en las tiendas. La arquitectura Bífida fue la más común (133 tiendas), seguida por la Cónica (47 tiendas), la Apical (27 tiendas) y la Bote Invertido (16 tiendas). La mayoría de las tiendas encontradas se encontraban en buen estado (76.7 %, N = 171) y totalmente construidas (88.8 %, N = 198). Nuestro estudio demostró que encontrar refugios ocupados por murciélagos en el bosque es difícil. Cuando es comparada con la disponibilidad de refugios, la baja tasa de ocupación sugiere que, al menos en nuestra área de estudio, los refugios podrían no ser un recurso limitante. No obstante, para confirmar esta hipótesis, información acerca de la fidelidad y el proceso de selección de las especies es fundamental para comprender en que medida estos refugios cumplen con los requerimientos para ser habitados o modificados. A nivel mundial, los esfuerzos de conservación de los murciélagos deberían priorizar en comprender la ecología de los refugios, especialmente debido a que las presiones antropogénicas están continuamente reduciendo la disponibilidad de este recurso, lo cual sin duda alguna contribuye al riesgo de extinción para las especies más sensibles y especializadas.

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Bat species richness in Neotropical localities is generally higher than that of any other group of mammals, and surveys of local bat assemblages may provide useful data for conservation management plans. Although the bat fauna of the Rio de Janeiro state is currently one of the best known in Brazil, there are several localities not adequately surveyed yet, and most of them are in the mountainous regions and in the northern portion of the state. From January 2008 to November 2009, we conducted surveys of bats in three localities in the state of Rio de Janeiro (municipalities of Varre-Sai, Sumidouro, and Cantagalo), and our fieldwork constitutes the first assessment of the bat assemblages of these localities. Surveys were conducted using mist nets in four different habitat types in each locality (forest interior, forest edge, riparian forest, and open areas [pastures]). We captured a total of 148 individuals in 17 species, 14 genera and 3 families. Among them, 11 species were recorded in Sumidouro, seven in Cantagalo, and nine in Varre-Sai. Although species richness was low compared with previous surveys in other close localities, we recorded species that have been rarely sampled in Southeastern Brazil (e.g., Macrophyllummacrophyllum [Phyllostomidae]). The results reinforce the importance of sampling different habitats in short surveys to improve the number of species registered.

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The tropical forest fragmentation is known to affect the spatial structure of the landscape and habitat. These alterations can modify the attributes of bat assemblages, however, this phenomenon has been little studied and understood. In this work we evaluated the structure of landscape (i.e. composition and configuration) and vegetation, and its relationship with assemblage- and population-level characteristics of phyllostomid bats in a tropical rainforest of Southeastern Mexico. For this, we previously selected 12 sites located in continuous and fragmented forests, where bats were captured using mist nets during a two years sampling effort (144 nights). Bats relative abundance, species richness (diversity of order 0, 0D), Shannon diversity index (¹D) and Simpson index (²D) were evaluated in all sites, and their relationship with seven measures of landscape structure and seven measures of vegetation structure was described using a Hierarchical Partitioning Analysis. A total of 1 840 individuals of 29 species of phyllostomid bats were captured in this period. Differences in the assemblages were manifested only in the relative abundance and not in the richness of the species. The assemblages of fragmented forest exhibited greater variation in species composition and a greater abundance of frugivorous and nectarivorous bats in comparison with the assemblages of continuous forest. The landscape configuration was related to the assemblage- and population-level attributes, contrasting with previous studies where the composition was a key element. At habitat level, tree density and canopy cover determined the abundance of bats. Nectarivorous and frugivorous bats were mostly found in disturbed vegetation landscapes, primarily due to landscape configuration (e.g. edge density). This phenomenon could be a response to the availability of food in primary and intermediate successional stages, which are characterized by an abun-dance of food value.

La fragmentación de bisques tropicales altera la estructura especial del paisaje y del habitat . Estas alteraciones pueden modificar los atributos de las agregaciones de murciélagos, sin embargo este fenómeno ha sido poco estudiado y comprendido. Se evaluó la estructura del paisaje (i.e. composición y configuración) y vegetación, y sus relaciones con características a nivel de agregación (ensamble) y población de murciélagos filostómidos en una selva tropical del sureste de México. Se encontró que las modificaciones en las agregaciones solo se manifiestan en la abundancia relativa y no en la riqueza de especies. La configuración del paisaje fue un elemento relacionado con los atributos a nivel de ensamble y de población, contrastando con estudios previos donde la composición fue un elemento clave. A nivel de hábitat se encontró que la densidad arbórea y cobertura del dosel determinan la abundancia de murciélagos. Los murciélagos nectarívoros y frugívoros prefieren paisajes con vegetación alterada y están relacionados principalmente con la configuración del paisaje. Este fenómeno podría ser una respuesta a la disponibilidad de alimento en ambientes sucesionales primarios e intermedios, que se caracterizan por una alta proliferación de plantas con potencial alimenticio.

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Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli-like trypanosomes have been found in a variety of neotropical bat species. In this study, bats (Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Desmodus rotundus, Glossophaga soricina, Molossus molossus, Phyllostomus hastatus) were maintained under controlled conditions, and experiments were conducted to determine how they might become infected naturally with trypanosomes. All bats were first screened for existing infections by hemoculture and the examination of blood smears, and only apparently uninfected animals were then used in the experiments. Proof was obtained that the triatomine bug Rhodnius prolixus would readily feed upon some of the bats, and two species became infected after being bitten by bugs infected with T. rangeli. Some bats also became infected by ingesting R. prolixus carrying T. cruzi, or following subcutaneous or intragastic inoculation with fecal suspensions of R. prolixus containing T. cruzi. P. hastatus became infected after ingesting mice carrying T. cruzi. All of the bats studied inhabit roosts that may be occupied by triatomine bugs and, with the exception of D. rotundus, all also feed to at least some extent upon insects. These findings provide further evidence of how bats may play significant roles in the epidemiology of T. cruzi and T. rangeli in the New World tropics.

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