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 show...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2020-07, Vol.15 (7), p.e0234784
Main Authors: Bandouchova, Hana, Zukal, Jan, Linhart, Petr, Berkova, Hana, Brichta, Jiri, Kovacova, Veronika, Kubickova, Aneta, Abdelsalam, Ehdaa E. E, Bartonicka, Tomás, Zajícková, Renata, Pikula, Jiri
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal diseases
Animal lactation
Bats
Biochemistry
Biology and Life Sciences
Blood
Blood chemical analysis
Blood levels
Body temperature
Breastfeeding & lactation
Caves
Chiroptera
Conservation
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Electrolytes
Endangered & extinct species
Environmental aspects
Environmental changes
Fungal diseases
Fungi
Greater mouse-eared bat
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
Hibernation
Infections
Life cycles
Medicine and Health Sciences
Myotis myotis
Parameters
Pharmaceutical sciences
Physical Sciences
Physiological aspects
Physiology
Potassium
Protected species
Roosts
Seasonal variations
Sexual dimorphism
Skin
Social Sciences
Species
Summer
Swarming
Urea
White-nose syndrome
Winter
Zoology
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Summary: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 to establish reference values. Despite sexual dimorphism and some univariate differences, the overall multivariate pattern suggests low seasonal variation with homeostatic mechanisms effectively regulating haematology and blood biochemistry ranges. Overall, the species displayed a high haematocrit and haemoglobin content and high concentration of urea, while blood glucose levels in swarming and hibernating bats ranged from hypo- to normoglycaemic. Unlike blood pH, concentrations of electrolytes were wide ranging. To conclude, baseline data for blood physiology are a useful tool for providing suitable medical care in rescue centres, for studying population health in bats adapting to environmental change, and for understanding bat responses to stressors of conservation and/or zoonotic importance.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0234784