Nyctinomops Laticaudatus Research Articles

Description of new species of Trematoda from bats of Southeastern Mexico and a new classification for Brachylecithum rileyi n. comb. (Dicrocoeliidae)

To date, 23 species of trematodes have been reported in bats from Mexico. However, in some regions of Mexico, such as the Yucatan Peninsula, many species of bats do not have helminthological records. Here, we sampled bats in four localities in Southeastern Mexico from April 2017 to February 2022. Parasites were collected from the intestine of four species of bats: Pteronotus fulvus, Eumops nanus, Noctilio leporinus and Nyctinomops laticaudatus. Conventional morphological techniques and molecular tools with the 28S ribosomal gene were used to describe the helminths. We discovered that our parasites represent three new species and a new combination of trematodes. We found that the new species have morphological differences with their congeneric species, and we complement this information whit molecular data. Furthermore, we found morphological and molecular evidence that places Dicrocoelium rileyi within the genus Brachylecithum. This study points out the importance of comparing morphological and phylogenetic information.

Leptospira spp. detection in bats from the Peninsula of Yucatán, México

The records of Leptospira spp. in bats from México are scarce. It is known that several species of bats are hosts of pathogenic Leptospira spp.; therefore, they participate in the epidemiological cycle and can generate transmission scenarios to people and animals. The aim was to detect the DNA of Leptospira spp. in bats captured in four sites from the Yucatán Peninsula, México. A kidney fragment was collected from the bats and used to extract genomic DNA. Using a PCR, the DNA of Leptospira spp. was detected. Fifty–four bats of the species Desmodus rotundus, Mimon cozumelae, Pteronotus mesoamericanus, Pteronotus fulvus, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Peropteryx macrotis, Molossus nigricans, Molossus aztecus, Noctilio leporinus, Saccopteryx bilineata and Mormoops megalophylla were studied. The PCR yielded a total frequency of Leptospira spp. of 44.4% (24/54, 95% CI 36.2–71.7%). Species with at least one positive individual were D. rotundus, M. cozumelae, P. mesoamericanus, N. laticaudatus, P. macrotis, M. nigricans, N. leporinus, M. aztecus, and S. bilineata. A high frequency of Leptospira spp. was found in different species of bats belonging to several trophic guilds. The presence of Leptospira spp. in bats is relevant for Public and Animal Health because the evidence indicates that they can generate zoonotic transmission cycles.

Distribution and noteworthy records of parasitic bugs genus Hesperoctenes (Hemiptera: Polyctenidae) associated with bats (Chiroptera) in Colombia

The family Polyctenidae (Cimicoidea: Hemiptera) is a group of ectoparasites that has received very little attention from researchers. These bugs are typically associated with bats and are found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Polyctenidae consist of 32 species, which are divided into two subfamilies (Polycteninae and Hesperocteninae) and five genera (Adroctenes, Eoctenes, Hypoctenes, and Polyctenes within Polycteninae and Hesperoctenes within Hesperocteninae). The genus Hesperoctenes comprises 16 species restricted to the Western Hemisphere (South and North America), whereas the other four genera are exclusive to the Old World (Africa, Asia, and Australia), that likely is the diversification center of this group. Besides the wide distribution in the Neotropics there are limited records for all the taxa described, except for Hesperoctenes fumarius and Hesperoctenes cartus. Furthermore, the association with the hosts and the distribution patterns are still unclear. In high diverse countries such as Colombia where more than 217 bat species have been reported, there are only few records of Polyctenids. To contribute to the knowledge of Neotropical Polyctenids, we reviewed the records of Hesperoctenes and the association with mammal hosts in America, and present noteworthy records of Hesperoctenes hermsi, H. fumarius and new associations with bats in Colombia. We identified individuals of both species by morphological comparisons and PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Due to the few records at the molecular level, the sequence of H. hermsi is the first reported for this species. Our study reports for the first time the presence of H. hermsi in Colombia, since it has only been reported in Brazil, USA, and Venezuela. We also report new associations with the bats Cynomops planirostris and Molossus pretiosus, since it has only been associated with other Molossids such as Molossus molossus, Eumops glacinus, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, and Nyctinomops macrotis.

Hourly activity patterns of the insectivorous bat assemblage in the urban–rural landscape of Lima, Peru

Abstract Circadian rhythms of bats are simultaneously influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors that vary across different landscapes. Since cities modify environmental conditions in which bats forage and roost, their temporal activity can be altered. Based on acoustic surveys, we described hourly activity patterns of eight aerial insectivorous bat species in an urban–rural landscape of Lima, Peru. We also explored whether bats show temporal partitioning at the assemblage level and, for three common species, if activity patterns change between landscape units (urban and rural areas) or moonlight intensity (dark and bright nights). At the assemblage level, bats displayed high temporal overlap, especially in rural areas. At the species level, Mormopterus kalinowskii and Tadarida brasiliensis displayed bimodal patterns at both landscape units, and Promops davisoni showed an almost uniform pattern or bimodal pattern at urban and rural sites, respectively. In rural areas, other bat species exhibited either unimodal patterns (Nyctinomops laticaudatus, N. aurispinosus, N. macrotis, and Tomopeas ravus) or a bimodal pattern (Myotis). Moonlight intensity had little influence on activity periods of most bat species. Our study provides valuable information for sampling designs and future studies on activity patterns focused on coexistence among insectivorous bat species in arid landscapes.

Bat diversity from an area of coastal Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

We characterize the bat fauna of forested sites in the municipality of Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil, and update the list of bat species of the state. We conducted a rapid inventory using ground-level mist nets (27,000 m²·h effort) and occasional roost searching, which resulted in a list of 23 species belonging to Phyllostomidae (18 species), Vespertilionidae (3), and Molossidae (2). We report the first record of Molossops neglectus Williams & Genoways, 1980 and Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias & Oliveira, 2011 from Espírito Santo, bringing the total number of confirmed species in the state to 86. The molossid Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) was exclusively recorded in its diurnal roost in rocky outcrops. Our study fills knowledge gaps in the distribution of bat species in southeastern Brazil, and more specifically in the highly diverse coastal Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo. These data reinforce the importance of continuously inventorying and documenting bats in the Neotropics.

Migratory testis, spermatogenesis and reproductive cycle of the neotropical broad-eared bat Nyctinomops laticaudatus (Molossidae)

We describe for the first time the displacement mechanism of migratory testis in Nyctinomops laticaudatus, which is little known in bats, in addition to histological analysis of its gonads. Data on testis anatomy and activity were obtained from 20 males. Males had migratory testes as they are displaced in the inguinal canals between intra and external abdominal positions. The displacement mechanism consisted of a testis ligament composed mainly of smooth muscle tissue attached to the cranial pole of the testis. Since the epididymis is closely tied to the testis, both organs are displaced together, regardless of the individual reproductive condition. Males and females showed seasonal monoestry, with a short mating period at the beginning of the dry season. The occurrence of breeding males was inversely proportional to rain and air temperature. At the mid-dry season, when air temperatures are also lower, males showed testis regressing, remaining in a reproductive hiatus for several months (rest/recrudescence) until the beginning of in the next dry season. Pregnant females were captured at the end of the dry season, and the birth of the young occurred during the rainy season, a time of greater food availability. Thus, females coordinated their reproductive phases to a more favorable period of the year for their survival and that of the offspring. Males associated their spermatogenic activity to a time of no environmental nor physiological restriction related to low air temperature.

Bats of Paraguay: Specimen Data Reveal Ecoregional Preferences and Diverse Seasonal Patterns

Several types of information have been used to infer migration in bats, including seasonal presence or absence, marking and reencountering individual bats, and genetically identifiable populations being encountered in different locations in different seasons. Each of these types of evidence has been used to reveal the migratory movements of bats in North America and the Old World, but little is known about bat migration in the Neotropics. 58 species of bats belonging to six families are currently known to occur in Paraguay, including insectivores, frugivores, pollinivores, piscivores, carnivores and sanguivores. Given the seasonality of some of these food resources, the question arises of whether some species are migratory. To date there is no direct evidence of bat migration in Paraguay. We develop a novel method of investigating possible bat migration in Paraguay, generalizable to other countries or regions. Using a database of almost 14,000 bat records in Paraguay that include specific identification, month and department (primary administrative division) of capture, we apply statistical methods to search for seasonal patterns of occurrence in 18 species. Although we are able to assign locality records to ecoregions only by reference to the department of capture, the analytic method proved useful in detecting patterns of seasonal variation. Results strongly suggest migration of bats both within Paraguay and outside of the country, by ten species representing four families and three trophic guilds. Migratory status is not related to ecoregional preference, trophic guild, distributional status or body size. Migration has previously been reported elsewhere for six of the ten species (Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Lasiurus ega, Glossophaga soricina, Artibeus lituratus, Pygoderma bilabiatum and Sturnira lilium). This is the first report of migration in Eumops patagonicus, Molossops temminckii, Myotis albescens and Noctilio albiventris. As for any migratory species, conservation measures must include both spatial and temporal considerations to be effective, and we conclude with a brief review of the uneven and inadequate distribution of Important Bat Areas (AICOMs) in Paraguay.

Genetic identification of a rabies virus from an insectivorous bat in an urban area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

In Latin America, hematophagous bats are the main reservoirs of rabies virus (RABV) to livestock, to other mammals and, occasionally, to human. Nonetheless, reports of exposure of human and pets to RABV upon aggression by non-hematophagous bats are increasing, possibly facilitated by the synanthropic habits of these bats. We, herein, report the detection and genetic identification of a RABV recovered from an insectivorous bat found sick in a student housing building at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Southern Brazil. Taxonomic characterization identified the captured bat as a member of the genus Nyctinomops, family Molossidae, the group of insectivorous bats. Brain fragments of the bat were positive for RABV antigens by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and for sequences of the nucleoprotein (N) gene by RT-PCR. The N amplicon was submitted to nucleotide sequencing and analysis, showing that the consensus sequences (SV 33/19) had high identity with RABV sequences of insectivorous bats deposited in GenBank. At phylogenetic tree, the N gene sequences of SV 33/19 clustered with RABV recovered from Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Molossus molossus, and Tadarida lauticaudata bats, and a part of RABV variant 3, 4, and 6, that correspond to Desmodus rotundus, Tadarida brasiliensis, and Lasiurus cinereus, respectively. Although no direct human or domestic animal exposure has been reported, this case strengthens the need for a continuous rabies vaccination in pets in the surrounding areas, since non-hematophagous bats may serve as source of infection for these animals. These findings also call attention for continuous monitoring of populations of synanthropic bats to avoid/prevent human exposure.

Thousands of bats: A portrait of the chiropteran fauna of Palmas city, Central Brazil

AbstractUrban development remodels the natural landscape and reconfigures local faunal communities. This study investigated for the first time the composition of bats in the city of Palmas, a rapidly growing urban centre in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. We recorded twenty‐three species of bats, most of them frugivorous, and we try to launch light on a large colony of urban insectivorous bats. This bat colony contained an estimated one million broad‐eared bats (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), and resided under the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Bridge of Friendship and National Integration, over the Tocantins River, between April and the beginning of October. This site has been certified as a Site of Special Importance for Bat Conservation by the Latin American and Caribbean Bat Conservation Network. The protection of the city’s bats in general, and the bridge colony, in particular, will depend on efforts to raise the awareness of state and municipal authorities, programmes of environmental education and even the exploitation of the potential for local tourism.

Leishmania presence in bats in areas endemic for leishmaniasis in central-west Brazil.

Leishmaniasis involves the participation of several species of both wild and domestic mammal hosts and sandfly vectors, which demonstrates the eco-epidemiological complexity observed in this disease. Bats are among the most abundant types of mammals and the scarcity of research on Leishmania infection in these animals gives evidence of the importance of new studies that aim to clarify this relationship. This study aimed to detect the Leishmania spp. in bats. 146 bats, representing 16 different species belonging to the Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Phyllostomidae families, were received and processed for collection of tissues. Skin samples were collected from 100% of the bats, and liver samples were collected from 87% (n = 127). After evaluating the quality of the DNA extracted by means of PCR directed to the IRBP gene, the samples considered suitable for the Leishmania detection test were submitted for PCR directed to Leishmania kDNA, and to confirm positivity, were tested to the SSUrRNA gene-directed Nested-PCR. The Leishmania presence in the species Molossus pretiosus, Nyctinomops macrotis, and Lasiurus cinereus are the first reports this encounter in these species of bats in Brazil. Furthermore, new species of bats as possible hosts for L. infantum are reported, such as Molossus pretiosus, Myotis nigricans, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Nyctinomops macrotis, and, for L. braziliensis, Lasiurus cinereus and Cynomops planirostris. These findings in bats in an area endemic for leishmaniasis indicate that these animals may be involved in sustaining the disease cycle in this location.

First record of predation of Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) by Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) (Mammalia: Chiroptera).

The Wooly False Vampire Bat, Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs and occasionally large insects and fruits. In this paper we report an additional evidence of bat predation by C. auritus. A male of this species was captured with a partially eaten Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) (Chiroptera: Molossidae). This record was obtained during a research project conducted in the Biological Reserve of Sooretama, Southeastern Brazil.

Genotoxicological analyses of insectivorous bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in central Brazil: The oral epithelium as an indicator of environmental quality

The micronucleus (MN) test of the human buccal mucosa was developed more than 30 years ago, although this technique has only recently been applied to wild mammals. This paper presents a pioneering study in the genotoxicological evaluation of the exfoliated cells of the buccal mucosa of bats. The assay was applied to two insectivorous bat species (Noctilio albiventris and Pteronotus parnellii) sampled in riparian corridors located in the city of Palmas (capital of the Brazilian state of Tocantins), with the results being compared with those obtained for a third insectivorous species (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), which has established a colony under a road bridge in the same region. This colony represents one of the largest molossidae populations ever recorded in Brazil. A significantly higher frequency of micronuclei was recorded in this colony, as well as a number of other nuclear abnormalities, including binucleated cells, cells with condensed chromatin and karyolysis, in comparison with the bats from the riparian corridors, indicating that the bats from the bridge colony are more susceptible to genotoxic damage. Thus, it is demonstrated the importance of the biomarker (MN) for use in wild animals and allows to conclude that colony bats are more susceptible to genotoxic damages.

Notes on the geographic range and distribution of two free-tailed bat species (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Costa Rica

Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805) and Eumops nanus (Miller, 1900) are 2 species with distributions that are expected for Costa Rica. However, voucher specimens that confirm the presence of these species in the country are absent or missing in museum collections. Here we document voucher specimens and present data that confirm the presence of N. laticaudatus and E. nanus in Costa Rica.

Territorial calls analysis in the broad tailed bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus)

Some bat families perform vocalizations called “songs” to mate, conformed by three element types: chirps, trills, and buzzes. Also, those might be territorial warning calls; but its syntax remains to be understood. Our goal is to get information about mating calls’ patterns and its clarified function for a molossid bat species. We used ultrasound microphones to record vocalizations from a colony of Nyctinomops laticaudatus, during three periods through 2013–2014. We performed spectrogram analysis to characterize vocalizations with chirp number, duration, and acoustic frequency measurements. Results show males perform structured and complex songs. Vocal repertoire features two chirp types, trills, and buzzes as in other species. Chirp A is a short descendant frequency modulated pulse of 8.05 ms (SD = 3.53 ms); chirp B is a downward FM larger than A with an upward final segment of 43.93 ms total length (SD = 14.85 ms). Distinctively Nyctinomops laticaudatus performs songs of a series of three to nine compou...

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for funnel-eared bats Natalus mexicanus (Chiroptera: Natalidae) and cross-amplification using next-generation sequencing

This study presents the characterization of a series of 10 microsatellite loci developed for the funnel-eared bat Natalus mexicanus. A total of 35 pairs of primers, in 32 exemplars of N. mexicanus collected at two localities in Mexico, were selected by pyrosequencing for testing via cross-amplification in other bat species (Corynorhinus townsendii, Natalus major, Natalus tumidirostris, Nyctinomops laticaudatus and Tadarida brasiliensis). All 10 loci of this species amplified positively with medium and high resolution of genetic variation (2–15 alleles per locus, mean HE 0.7217, mean HO 0.6074). We consider that these polymorphic loci will be useful in genetic studies of this species as well as that of other bat families.

Molecular Systematics ofNyctinomops(Chiroptera: Molossidae)

Abstract. The genus Nyctinomops comprises 4 species of bats in the free-tailed family Molossidae: Nyctinomops macrotis, Nyctinomops femorosaccus, Nyctinomops aurispinosus, and Nyctinomops laticaudatus. The objective of this study was to use mitochondrial sequence data to test hypotheses of relationship within Nyctinomops. A total of 460 bases of cytochrome b and 686 bases of NADH dehydrogenase were sequenced and analyzed from 22 individuals by use of parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Sequences from other molossid genera (Tadarida, Cynomops, and Otomops) were used as outgroups. In addition, a series of Nyctinomops specimens from Peru was re-assessed using morphological and molecular data. Our results agree with previous studies using morphological similarity in the placement of the largest member of the genus, N. macrotis, as sister to the remaining species. Furthermore, both mitochondrial data sets recovered the following relationship for the other members of the genus: (N. aurispinosus...

Species composition and mortality of bats at the Osório Wind Farm, southern Brazil

We present the results of a three-year study on the bat species killed by wind turbines at the Osório Wind Farm, a large wind power complex in southern Brazil, and compare these fatalities to the composition of the local bat fauna. Fatality searches around wind turbines were conducted from 2006 to 2009, as well as a bat inventory through mist-netting and searches for colonies from 2004 to 2010. We found a total of 336 bat fatalities: Tadarida brasiliensis (n = 245), Lasiurus cinereus (n = 44), Nyctinomops laticaudatus (n = 12), Molossus molossus (n = 9), Lasiurus blossevillii (n = 6), Promops nasutus (n = 3), Lasiurus ega (n = 3), Molossus rufus (n = 1), and Artibeus lituratus (n = 1). By mist-netting, we recorded 13 bat species in the region, of which only six were killed by wind turbines. Our results are similar to mortality patterns from the Northern Hemisphere in terms of: (1) uneven distribution of fatalities among species; (2) dominance of migratory species, including foliage/tree-roosting bats; and (3) discrepancy between presence and abundance of species recorded in the wind farm area and in the fatality sample.

Redescription and taxonomical considerations about Aonchotheca (Aonchotheca) pulchra n. comb. (Enoplida: Trichuridae), a nematode of Nyctinomops spp.

Pterothominx pulchra (Freitas, 1934) are little known gastric nematodes of Nyctinomops laticaudatus (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Information about the occurrence and host range of these parasites in Neotropical region is still scanty, and the only two morphological descriptions available in the literature are divergent about the presence or absence of a spiny spicular sheath in males, which may lead to incorrect taxonomical positioning, since this feature represents the main difference between the genera Pterothominx and Aonchotheca. Based on the absence of this morphological feature in specimens of this nematode obtained from N. laticaudatus and Nyctinomops macrotis bats captured in two municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, the present study reclassifies the aforementioned species in the genus Aonchotheca and allocates it to the subgenus Aonchotheca. Additional morphometric data and new host and locality records are also provided.

Bat assemblages in conservation areas of a metropolitan region in Southeastern Brazil, including an important karst habitat

Species richness and abundance of bats were studied in four nature reserves, including a karst area which has many potential rocky shelters for bats, such as caves and rock crevices. The reserves were located in the greater Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, one of the most populated regions of Brazil, within the Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) ecological domains. Bats were sampled using mist-nets and, in the karst area, also by active searches in shelters. A total of 1,599 bats were captured representing 30 species belonging to four families. There was little similarity among the four chiropteran faunas. The greatest species richness was found in the karst area with 22 species recorded whereas richness estimates in the other areas indicated the need for further studies. Two hundred and sixty-five individuals of 14 species were captured from 56 shelters. Most of the shelters were frequently used for diurnal roosts, and all the bats found belonged to the Phyllostomidae, with the exception of Myotis nigricans (Vespertilionidae), Nyctinomops laticaudatus (Molossidae) and Peropteryx macrotis (Emballonuridae). The sanguinivorous Desmodus rotundus was the most common species in the shelters. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of maintaining multiple protected areas to ensure a representative fauna of bats in a region characterized by a vegetation transition zone and with intense economic activity and high environmental impact. This study also demonstrates the importance of rock shelters for maintaining local bat richness and the importance of active searches for bats in their diurnal roosts for a more thorough sampling of the bat fauna at a given locality.

Coronaviruses in bats from Mexico.

Bats are reservoirs for a wide range of human pathogens including Nipah, Hendra, rabies, Ebola, Marburg and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (CoV). The recent implication of a novel beta (β)-CoV as the cause of fatal respiratory disease in the Middle East emphasizes the importance of surveillance for CoVs that have potential to move from bats into the human population. In a screen of 606 bats from 42 different species in Campeche, Chiapas and Mexico City we identified 13 distinct CoVs. Nine were alpha (α)-CoVs; four were β-CoVs. Twelve were novel. Analyses of these viruses in the context of their hosts and ecological habitat indicated that host species is a strong selective driver in CoV evolution, even in allopatric populations separated by significant geographical distance; and that a single species/genus of bat can contain multiple CoVs. A β-CoV with 96.5 % amino acid identity to the β-CoV associated with human disease in the Middle East was found in a Nyctinomops laticaudatus bat, suggesting that efforts to identify the viral reservoir should include surveillance of the bat families Molossidae/Vespertilionidae, or the closely related Nycteridae/Emballonuridae. While it is important to investigate unknown viral diversity in bats, it is also important to remember that the majority of viruses they carry will not pose any clinical risk, and bats should not be stigmatized ubiquitously as significant threats to public health.