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Among mammals, bats represent the most diverse order regarding feeding habits, with such variety of diets influencing the antioxidant capacity of tissues. While frugivory provides an intake of natural antioxidants, such as carotenoids and vitamins, which support non-enzymatic antioxidant defense, a blood meal, as consumed by vampire bats, is rich in protein and iron, which are assumed to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Nectar is another food item shared by a few bat species, and also possesses the potential to generate ROS through glucose auto-oxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the antioxidant capacities of tissues (liver, muscles, heart and kidneys) in the adult male blood-feeding bat Desmodus rotundus (n = 11), fruit-feeding bat Sturnira lilium (n = 8) and nectar-feeding bat Anoura caudifer (n = 6). Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were higher in the liver and muscles of blood-feeding and nectar-feeding bats, respectively. Superoxide dismutase was also higher in the kidneys of blood-feeding bats when compared to frugivorous S. lilium. Glutathione S-transferase showed its highest activity in the liver and muscles of frugivorous A. caudifer and in the kidneys of sanguivorous D. rotundus. Lipid peroxidation, measured through malondialdehyde levels, was lower in the liver and heart of frugivorous bats and in the kidneys of nectarivorous bats. The results showed that feeding habit influences the antioxidant capacity of tissues involved in metabolism, and all three bat species showed different adaptations to their diets. In general, even facing high oxygen consumption and dietary challenges, D. rotundus and A. caudifer showed a higher capacity to combat oxidative damage, which might contribute to their longevity compared to similar sized mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deltamethrin (DTM) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide highly used by farmers and home users. This pesticide has lipophilic properties that facilitate a high absorption and can cause toxicity in non-target organisms. During foraging, the fruit-eating bats Artibeus lituratus are exposed to pesticides. However, the knowledge of the toxicity of pesticides on the physiology of bats is relatively scarce. This study aimed to check the toxicity of short-term exposure to low concentration of DTM on fruit-eating bat A. lituratus . After seven days of exposure to two doses of DTM (0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg of papaya), the fruit bats showed an increase in the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and hyperglycemia. The liver and pectoral muscle presented oxidative stress. In the liver, the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and nitric oxide (NO) were increased as well as the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) but in a lesser extent. Yet, total lipids were increased while hepatic glycogen content is reduced. The pectoral muscle showed NO, SOD, CAT, malondialdehyde (MDA), and carbonyl increased protein levels in both concentrations of DTM. All these results show that low doses of DTM can cause hepatic and muscular toxicity and induce changes in carbohydrate metabolism. Physiological changes caused by exposure to DTM in bats may have direct consequences in flight capacity, reproduction, and metabolism of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]