Artibeus Lituratus Research Articles

Comparison of roosting behavior between two disparate landscapes by a Neotropical bat (Artibeus lituratus) in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay

Comparison of roosting behavior between two disparate landscapes by a Neotropical bat (Artibeus lituratus) in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay

Comparative study of endocrine pancreatic tissue in bats: Assessing variations among frugivorous, insectivorous, and nectarivorous diets

Whether the endocrine pancreas exhibits structural features to couple with dietary patterns is not fully explored. Considering the lack of data comparing endocrine pancreas and islet cell distribution among different bat species in the same study, we considered this an opportunity to explore the topic, including five species within three different predominant diets. For this, we applied morphometric techniques to compare the islets of frugivorous Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata, insectivorous Molossus molossus and Myotis nigricans, and nectarivorous Glossophaga soricina bats. Data for islet size, cellularity, and mass were equivalent between frugivorous A. lituratus and nectarivorous G. soricina, which differed from insectivorous bats. The frugivorous C. perspicillata bat exhibited morphometric islet values between A. lituratus and the insectivorous species. A. lituratus and G. soricina but not C. perspicillata bats had higher islet mass than insectivorous species due to larger size, instead of a higher number of islets per area. Insectivorous bats, on the other hand, had a higher proportion of α-cells per islet. These differences in the endocrine pancreas across species with different eating habits indicate the occurrence of species-specific adjustments along the years of evolution, with the demand for α-cells higher in bats with higher protein intake.

Genomic characterization of a novel Hepatovirus identified in Maranhão state, Brazil

Bats are efficient reservoirs of a number of viruses with zoonotic potential, and are involved directly in the transmission cycle of many zoonoses. In the present study, which is part of a larger project that is documenting the viromes of the bat species found in the Mid-North states of Maranhão and Piauí, we analyzed 16 pooled samples obtained from four species of bat of the genus Artibeus—Artibeus obscurus, Artibeus cinereus, Artibeus lituratus and Artibeus planirostris. We describe and identify a Hepatovirus, denominated Hepatovirus H isolate sotense, which was found in a pool of internal organs (liver and lungs) extracted from a specimen of A. planirostris, a frugivorous bat, collected in the Cerrado biome of Maranhão state. This material was analyzed using new generation sequencing, which produced a contig of 7390 nucleotides and presented a degree of identity with a number of existing Hepatovirus sequences available for bats (amino acid identity of 61.5% with Bat hepatovirus C of Miniopterus cf. manavi, 66.6% with Bat hepatovirus G of Coleura afra, 67.4% with Hepatovirus G2 of Rhinolophus landeri, and 75.3% with Hepatovirus H2 of Rhinolophus landeri). The analysis of the functional domains of this contig confirmed a pattern consistent with the characteristics of the genus Hepatovirus (Picornaviridae). In the phylogenetic tree with several other Hepatovirus species, this genome also grouped in a monophyletic clade with Hepatovirus H (HepV-H1; HepV-H2, and HepV-H3) albeit on an external branch, which suggests that it may be a distinct genotype within this species. This is the first isolate of Hepatovirus H identified in bats from South America, and represents an important discovery, given that most studies of viruses associated with bats in the state of Maranhão have focused on the family Rhabdoviridae.

BatFly: A database of Neotropical bat-fly interactions.

Global changes have increased the risk of emerging infectious diseases, which can be prevented or mitigated by studying host-parasite interactions, among other measures. Bats and their ectoparasitic flies of the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are an excellent study model but, so far, our knowledge has been restricted to fragmented records at a local scale. To help boost research, we assembled a data set of bat-fly interactions from 174 studies published between 1904 and 2022 plus three original data sets. Altogether, these studies were carried out at 650 sites in the Neotropics, mainly distributed in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, southern USA, and Colombia, among other countries. In total, our data set contains 3984 interaction records between 237 bat species and 255 fly species. The bat species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Carollia perspicillata (357), Artibeus jamaicensis (263), and Artibeus lituratus (228). The fly species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Trichobius joblingi (256), Megistopoda aranea (235), and Megistopoda proxima (215). The interaction data were extracted, filtered, taxonomically harmonized, and made available in a tidy format together with linked data on bat population, fly population, study reference, sampling methods and geographic information from the study sites. This interconnected structure enables the expansion of information for each interaction record, encompassing where and how each interaction occurred, as well as the number of bats and flies involved. We expect BatFly to open new avenues for research focused on different levels of ecological organization and spatial scales. It will help consolidate knowledge about ecological specialization, resource distribution, pathogen transmission, and the drivers of parasite prevalence over a broad spatial range. It may also help to answer key questions such as: Are there differences in fly prevalence or mean infestation across Neotropical ecoregions? What ecological drivers explain those differences? How do specialization patterns vary among fly species in the Neotropics? Furthermore, we expect BatFly to inspire research aimed at understanding how climate and land-use changes may impact host-parasite interactions and disease outbreaks. This kind of research may help us reach Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, outlined by the United Nations. The data are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Heterogeneity in the preferential diet of neotropical bats impacts the pancreatic islet mass and α and β cell distribution

Whether there is a relationship between bats' dietary patterns and evolutionary endocrine pancreas adaptation is not clearly understood. Aiming to contribute to this topic, we evaluated some metabolic and structural parameters in the following adult bats: the frugivorous Artibeus lituratus, the nectarivorous Anoura caudifer, the hematophagous Desmodus rotundus, and the insectivorous Molossus molossus. A. lituratus and A. caudifer diets consist of high amounts of simple carbohydrates, while D. rotundus and M. molossus diets consist of high amounts of proteins or protein and fat, respectively. In our results, A. lituratus and A. caudifer bats exhibited the highest values of relative islet mass (%), islet density (number of islets per pancreas area), and the lowest values of intestinal length among the four species. When adjusted by the body mass (mg/g of body mass), both D. rotundus and A. caudifer bats exhibited the highest islet mass values among the groups. Blood glucose was similar between A. lituratus, D. rotundus, and M. molossus, with the lowest values for the A. caudifer bats. M. molossus bats had the highest plasma cholesterol values among the studied species but exhibited similar plasma triacylglycerol with D. rotundus and A. caudifer bats. β- and α-cell distribution within A. lituratus, A. caudifer, and M. molossus islets achieved an approximate average value of ∼ 66% and ∼ 28%, respectively, a pattern inverted in D. rotundus islets (53% of α cells and 40% of β cells). A. caudifer and D. rotundus exhibited the highest and the lowest β/α-cells ratio per islet, respectively. We conclude that the macronutrient predominance in each bat-eating niche correlates with the morphophysiological pancreas features being the nectarivorous A. caudifer the species with the highest islet mass per body mass and β/α-cells ratio, while the hematophagous D. rotundus showed the highest α-cells apparatus.

The role of feeding roosts in seed dispersal service bats provide in urban areas

AbstractIn urban ecosystems, bats play an essential role in seed dispersal, which is facilitated by their use of feeding roosts. However, there are several knowledge gaps in this ecosystem service that bats provide in urban areas. We aimed to describe the fruits consumed by bats in an urban area, the selection and use of feeding roosts, and the patterns of seed dispersal by fruit bats in a Brazilian city. We collected and identified the seeds deposited under feeding roosts and tested for differences in the size of the seed of fruits consumed by bats and the seeds of fruits available in the study area. We also captured and identified bats feeding near roosts using mist nets and assessed the vegetation structure and urban variables that might influence the bats' tree choice for roosts. We found that Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus planirostris, and Platyrrhinus lineatus potentially used feeding roosts and preferred the tallest trees, which were located further away from artificial light. The average distance of seed dispersal was 105.5 meters, and the average size of the dispersed seeds did not differ from the seeds of the fruits available in the area, suggesting that bats are not limited to dispersing only tiny seeds. However, the prevalence of exotic seeds raises concerns that bats may spread exotic species, especially in surrounding protected areas. These results highlight the importance of frugivorous bats as significant seed dispersers in urban areas and emphasize the need for further research to understand their role in shaping urban ecosystems.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Iron and aluminum ore mining pollution induce oxidative and tissue damage on fruit-eating bats from the Atlantic Forest

Mining, a vital industry for economic growth, poses significant environmental pollution challenges. Failures in tailings dam containment have caused environmental contamination and raised concerns about preserving the globally significant biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest, which is under severe threat. Fruit-eating bats are key for forest regeneration as essential seed dispersers and pollinators. This study focuses on two keystone species, Artibeus lituratus and Sturnira lilium, exploring the effects of iron ore mining area (FEOA) and aluminum ore mining area (ALOA) on these bats, respectively, and comparing to individuals from a preserved Atlantic Forest fragment (FFA). Bats from FEOA showed higher Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe) and Barium (Ba) liver accumulation, as well as Ca and Fe muscle accumulation. These animals also showed higher liver and kidney oxidative damage associated with liver fibrosis and kidney inflammation. Brain and muscle also showed oxidative stress. Bats from ALOA showed higher Ca and Ba liver accumulation and Ca, Zinc (Zn), and Ba muscle accumulation, along with higher brain oxidative stress, liver fibrosis, and kidney inflammation. Our findings indicate that iron and aluminum ore mining activities cause adverse effects on bat tissues, posing a potential threat to biodiversity maintenance in the Atlantic Forest.

Characterization of the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and associated ectoparasites from Brazil.

Bats, along with their ectoparasites, harbor a wide diversity of symbiotic and potential pathogenic bacteria. Despite the enormous diversity of bats (181 species), few studies aimed to investigate the bacterial microbiome of Brazilian chiropterans and associated ectoparasites. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and associated Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil. Oral and rectal swabs were collected from 30 bats (Artibeus lituratus [n = 13], Artibeus planirostris [n = 9], Eptesicus furinalis [n = 5], Carollia perspicillata [n = 2], and Platyrrhinus lineatus [n = 1]). In addition, a total of 58 mites (15 Macronyssidae and 43 Spinturnicidae) and 48 Streblidae bat flies were collected from the captured bats. After DNA extraction and purification, each sample's bacterial composition was analyzed with metagenomic sequencing. The microbiome composition of both oral and rectal bat swab samples showed that Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial class. Spiroplasma, Wolbachia and Bartonella represented the most abundant genera in Streblidae flies. While Wolbachia (Alphaproteobacteria) was the most abundant genus found in Spinturnicidae, Arsenophonus (Gammaproteobacteria) was found in high abundance in Macronyssidae mites. In addition to characterizing the microbiome of each sample at the class and genus taxonomic levels, we identified medically significant bacteria able to infect both animals and humans in oral (Streptococcus and Anaplasma) and rectal swabs (Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Streptococcus), Macronyssidae (Anaplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia) and Spinturnicidae (Anaplasma, Bartonella) mites as well as Streblidae flies (Spiroplasma, Bartonella). Besides expanding the knowledge on the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and Streblidae flies from Brazil, the present work showed, for the first time, the bacterial community of bat-associated Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites.

Chiropteran diversity and diet of fruit bats in a tropical dry forest of northern South America

Remnants of Tropical Dry Forest persist in urban and peri-urban areas and are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the challenges facing the conservation of these respective forests have intensified with the encroachment of the urban frontier, mining activities, deforestation, and cattle ranching. In this context, our study aims to estimate the diversity of the order Chiroptera and characterize the diet of the family Phyllostomidae. This approach allows us to gain insights into the ecological dynamics and assess the status of Tropical Dry Forest fragments located within the urban and peri-urban areas of Cúcuta, Colombia. Field sampling was conducted from January to September 2018, with a total sampling effort of 2,160 hours/meter/net. Bats were sexed, morphometrically characterized, and had their feces collected for diet analysis before being tagged and released. We identified three families, nine genera, and 11 species. A total of 276 individuals were captured. Seven species were observed in the urban area and ten in the peri-urban zone; Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant species in both locations. The diet included seeds from the families Moraceae, Anacardiaceae, and Rosaceae. Our findings reveal that in areas with dense vegetation, such as peri-urban zones, frugivorous bats prefer to consume fruits of domesticated species, including economically significant fruits like guava and tomato. This dietary shift could alter seed dispersal patterns and the dynamics of the Tropical Dry Forest, highlighting the ecological importance of these flying mammals in ecosystem regeneration.

Antigenic and molecular evidence of Brucella sp.-associated epididymo-orchitis in frugivorous (Artibeus lituratus) and nectarivorous (Glossophaga soricina) bats in Brazil.

This study included 47 free-ranging bats from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Six bats (12.8%) had genital inflammatory lesions, and two of them (one Artibeus lituratus and one Glossophaga soricina, a frugivorous and a nectarivorous, respectively) were diagnosed with Brucella sp. infection through PCR, and antigens in intralesional macrophages were detected using immunohistochemistry.

Proteinaceous plug and urethral ectasia in Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Artibeus lituratus (great fruit-eating bat; Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae) is a bat predominantly frugivorous species, with an important role in seed dispersal. The scarce literature on the morphology and pathology of bats is a challenge for professionals who study the species. This report presents the case of a free-living adult male of A. lituratus, captured during ecology and health studies in an Atlantic Forest remnant in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The macroscopic examination of the structures showed a prostate, with about 0.5 cm in diameter, attached to the base of the urinary bladder, embracing part of the initial portion of the urethra and being composed of two well-defined regions: dorsal region and ventral region (involving the ventral part of the urethra) with the presence of homogeneous and whitish parenchyma. The urinary bladder was quite rigid and very thick with a lot of a whitish, friable and caseous material inside. On microscopic examination, this material was strongly eosinophilic and densely marked by PAS staining with the presence of sperm. The histology of prostatic region was preserved; however, the marked ectasia of the prostatic urethra was observed, with a large amount of refluxed material in its interior and flattening of the lining epithelium in part of the sample. This is the first report of this pathological process in A. lituratus and important to draw attention of veterinarians and other professionals about the presence of this pathology in bats.

Proteinaceous plug and urethral ectasia in Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Artibeus lituratus (great fruit-eating bat; Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae) is a bat predominantly frugivorous species, with an important role in seed dispersal. The scarce literature on the morphology and pathology of bats is a challenge for professionals who study the species. This report presents the case of a free-living adult male of A. lituratus, captured during ecology and health studies in an Atlantic Forest remnant in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The macroscopic examination of the structures showed a prostate, with about 0.5 cm in diameter, attached to the base of the urinary bladder, embracing part of the initial portion of the urethra and being composed of two well-defined regions: dorsal region and ventral region (involving the ventral part of the urethra) with the presence of homogeneous and whitish parenchyma. The urinary bladder was quite rigid and very thick with a lot of a whitish, friable and caseous material inside. On microscopic examination, this material was strongly eosinophilic and densely marked by PAS staining with the presence of sperm. The histology of prostatic region was preserved; however, the marked ectasia of the prostatic urethra was observed, with a large amount of refluxed material in its interior and flattening of the lining epithelium in part of the sample. This is the first report of this pathological process in A. lituratus and important to draw attention of veterinarians and other professionals about the presence of this pathology in bats.

Experimental infection of Artibeus lituratus bats and no detection of Zika virus in neotropical bats from French Guiana, Peru, and Costa Rica suggests a limited role of bats in Zika transmission.

Bats are important natural reservoir hosts of a diverse range of viruses that can be transmitted to humans and have been suggested to play an important role in the Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission cycle. However, the exact role of these animals as reservoirs for flaviviruses is still controversial. To further expand our understanding of the role of bats in the ZIKV transmission cycle in Latin America, we carried out an experimental infection in wild-caught Artibeus lituratus bats and sampled several free-living neotropical bats across three countries of the region. Experimental ZIKV infection was performed in wild-caught adult bats (4 females and 5 males). The most relevant findings were hemorrhages in the bladder, stomach and patagium. Significant histological findings included inflammatory infiltrate consisting of a predominance of neutrophils and lymphocytes, in addition to degeneration in the reproductive tract of males and females. This suggests that bat reproduction might be at some level affected by ZIKV. Leukopenia was also observed in some inoculated animals. Hemorrhages, genital alterations, and leukopenia are suggested to be caused by ZIKV; however, since these were wild-caught bats, we cannot exclude other agents. Detection of ZIKV by qPCR was observed at low concentrations in only two urine samples in two inoculated animals. All other animals and tissues tested were negative. Finally, no virus-neutralizing antibodies were found in any animal. To determine ZIKV infection in nature, the blood of a total of 2056 bats was sampled for ZIKV detection by qPCR. Most of the sampled individuals belonged to the genus Pteronotus sp. (23%), followed by the species Carollia sp. (17%), Anoura sp. (14%), and Molossus sp. (13.7%). No sample of any tested species was positive for ZIKV by qPCR. These results together suggest that bats are not efficient amplifiers or reservoirs of ZIKV and may not have an important role in ZIKV transmission dynamics.

Habitat differences and roost selection between two disparate landscapes by a neotropical bat (Artibeus lituratus) in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay

1. Species that range across heterogeneous environments should optimally modify their behavior to local conditions. We explored this adaptive habitat-use concept by examining a primary resource: bat roosts. If landscape types differ in roosting characteristics, changes in roost use should manifest. 2. We tested this relationship between bats and landscape by contrasting bat roost use between contiguous forest and fragmented matrix. We posited that if forest structure is different and roosts are limited, fragmentation may affect roost use and selection. 3. The neotropical great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus) is a common bat species in Alto Paraná Atlantic Forests of eastern Paraguay. We collected habitat use data by following 39 telemetered bats, and compared tree and stand characteristics from roost trees and random trees in both contiguous and matrix landscapes. 4. Diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees used as roosts was greater than the DBH of random trees, but only in the contiguous landscape. Tree height and crown cover density decreased in tandem and sequentially: contiguous landscape (roost trees taller with denser crowns than random trees), then matrix landscape (random trees taller with denser crowns than roost trees). 5. Across both landscapes, roost trees had greater vine species richness, and more vine knots and surrounding vines than random trees. Also, the nearest taller tree occurred closer to random trees than roost trees. Furthermore, canopy height around random trees was taller than around roost trees, and random trees tended to have more surrounding basal area than roost trees. 6. When A. lituratus roost selection in the Atlantic Forest is considered across disparate landscapes, a tall, large-boled tree is not the most important predictor. The strongest indicators of an A. lituratus roost were a vine-covered tree, in an uncluttered stand of smaller trees. While roost selection by A. lituratus also differed between contiguous and matrix landscapes, the aforementioned indicators remained consistent. Ergo, behavioral differences between these two A. lituratus groups cannot be explained through roost-use alone. Further exploration of tropical bat roosting is needed if a true comprehensive and holistic synthesis of bat roosting ecology is to be achieved.

Annual reproductive cycle of males of the great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus: Testicular variations, abiotic regulation and sperm analysis

Artibeus lituratus is one of the most well-known bat species in the Neotropics, probably due to its high abundance and the ability to inhabit urban areas. It plays an important ecological role in the ecosystem due to its ability to disperse seeds, which contributes to the regeneration of degraded areas. Actually, the species has been used as an important experimental model for ecotoxicological studies of the impact of pesticides on male reproduction. Despite that, the reproductive pattern of A. lituratus is still controversial due to inconsistent descriptions of the reproductive cycle. Thus, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the annual variations of the testicular parameters and sperm quality of A. lituratus and analyze their responses to annual variations in abiotic factors in the Cerrado area in Brazil. Testes of five specimens were collected each month for one year (12 sample groups) and submitted to histological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses. Analyses of the sperm quality were also performed. Results demonstrate that A. lituratus presents a continuously active process of spermatogenesis throughout the year, with two significant peaks in spermatogenic production (September-October and March), which indicates a bimodal polyestric pattern of reproduction. These reproductive peaks seem to be related to an increase in proliferation and, consequently, in the number of spermatogonia. Conversely, seasonal variations in testicular parameters are correlated with annual fluctuations in rainfall and photoperiod but not with temperature. In general, the species presents smaller spermatogenic indexes with a similar sperm quantity and quality to other bat species.

Bat blunders

Bat blunders

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in urban-rural interfaces: community structure associated with pathogen screening in São Paulo-the largest metropolitan region in Brazil.

Little is known about the influence of the urban environments on bat species 'ecology. The urbanization process potentially lead to critical ecological changes in bat communities' intra and interspecific pathogenic transmissions dynamics. To date, the monitoring of pathogens in bats in Brazil has only been done with bats found dead or alive in households, from rabies surveillance systems. The present work aimed to investigate how urbanization influenced bat richness, relative abundance and pathogen occurrence. Most captured bats were Phyllostomidae, especially Sturnira lilium, Artibeus lituratus, A. fimbriatus, Glossophaga soricina, and Platyrrhinus lineatus, among others. From preserved-rural towards urban areas the lesser the bat richness, the higher the relative abundance of the captured bats. Noise level, luminosity and relative humidity correlated with bat abundance. The proportion of genders, sexually active bats and their size (weight, right forearm length, and body condition index) were stable throughout the investigation. Still, the proportion of pregnant females was higher in Spring and the number of juveniles in Summer, evidencing the seasonality of reproduction. Several Enterobacteria were isolated, evidencing a significant role of bats in the circulation of pathogens of medical and veterinary interest. These results are crucial in the pursuit of a harmonious coexistence between humans, bats and domestic animals in areas with different levels of anthropization.

A morphologically atypical great fruit-eating bat Artibeus lituratus from Paraguay

Las anormalidades morfológicas y sus causas subyacentes están ampliamente conocidas y documentadas en humanos y animales domésticos; sin embargo, no se reportan frecuentemente en poblaciones silvestres. Este fenómeno se debe a que muchas anormalidades conducen a la muerte temprana del individuo y generalmente solo se las observa cuando se colecta un gran número de especímenes. Aquí reportamos una hembra adulta del murciélago frutero Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) de Paraguay con anormalidades craneales y post-craneales notorias. Los especímenes, incluyendo al individuo atípico de A. lituratus, fueron preparados como ejemplares científicos de piel y cráneo, y depositados en el Natural Science Research Laboratory de la Universidad de Texas Tech. Las secuencias de Citocromo b (Cyt b) fueron cargadas en BLAST para la identificación de la especie. Comparamos cuantitativamente al individuo atípico con otras 15 hembras normales colectadas en la misma localidad usando 13 medidas alares y 13 craneales. La secuencia del Cyt b del espécimen atípico obtuvo 100 % de coincidencia con A. lituratus. El ejemplar atípico fue de tamaño menor en las medidas convencionales del cuerpo y morfología de alas. El cráneo fue más pequeño y menos robusto comparado con otras hembras de A. lituratus del mismo sitio. Los huesos mastoideos y las crestas sagitales fueron notablemente reducidos y el escudo frontal estuvo ausente en el individuo atípico. Recomendamos que las anormalidades morfológicas se reporten con mayor frecuencia ya que la obtención de la tasa de anormalidad puede indicar el estado de salud poblacional.

Review of folivory by neotropical bats

Folivory by bats is done mainly by leaf fractionation, i.e., the chewed leaves are turned into a bolus which is then pressed against these mammals’ palates to obtain the liquid fraction dispensing the fibrous portion. In this work, folivory by neotropical bats was analyzed by carrying out a bibliographic research in Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Capes Periodicals academic databases with the following keywords and combinations: “Folivory" and "Bats"; "Leaves" and "Bats"; "Chiroptera" and "Folivory", for all years available up to 2019. This research returned 25 articles, 65.3% of which were carried out in Brazil. Most of them are occasional (56%), i.e., in which the main object of study was not folivory. Among those, leaf-eating by bats was described for nine species of neotropical bats, and Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) was the most extensively investigated species. The consumption of leaves by bats was described for 17 plant species. Only two articles pointed out the classes (age, reproductive and sexual) of the bats feeding on leaves; three investigated the foraging time; seven the seasonality; three sought to explain the reasons that contribute to folivory; and only one carried out an analysis of the chemical composition of the leaves. The preference for a determined leaf age was reported in three studies, whereas the folivory site (specific leaf portions preferably consumed) was described in four. Despite the increasing number of studies on folivory, there are still many gaps that limit the understanding of the real role of this behavior in the ecology of neotropical bats.

Histopathological survey of free-ranging neotropical bats with dermatitis.

Bats have a fundamental ecological role, and no wildlife disease has decimated more individuals than white-nose syndrome (WNS). This impactful mycosis has raised the importance of monitoring disease threats to bat populations. In this study, we aimed to investigate gross skin lesions in neotropical bats by histopathology to survey the occurrence of dermatitis that could resemble WNS cases in Brazil. Eleven species of free-ranging bats were sampled from the rabies surveillance program in 9 municipalities of Northern Paraná. Members of the Molossidae family were the most frequent ones among the 126 analyzed individuals, and 4 cases of dermatitis in 2 black mastiff bats (Molossus rufus), 1 great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus), and a big free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops macrotis) were detected. Gross lesions included alopecia, macules, discoloration, and hyperkeratosis. Among the bats with gross lesions, dermal thickening and mild inflammation were observed histologically. Two M. rufus bats had dermal fungal invasion; however, none resembled WNS.