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In the state of Queensland, volunteers perform much of the work needed to prevent the extinction of threatened species who are native and unique to this continent. Acting from an understanding of interspecies justice, caring people rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of wild animals every year. Many of these same people conduct informal environmental education to bring to community attention the problematics of extinction by seeking the material expression of an ethics of conviviality. Using a document case study approach, this paper narrates aspects of the kindship work of a network of carers and educators of flying foxes who undertake informal environmental education as part of their care practices. Volunteering to care and educate for Australian flying mammals is a form of activism in a nation with a mammalian extinction crisis that still fails to meet its obligations under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15. This paper describes how volunteer run informal environmental education in far north Queensland is driven by a strong sense of multispecies care.

Issue Addressed: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a fatal zoonosis, which can be transmitted to humans through scratches or bites from infected bats. Currently, there is a lack of research evaluating risk communication resources about ABLV or the dangers from handling bats. The purpose of this study was to field test resources aimed at educating the public about risks to humans and bats from human-bat interaction, then update these resources based upon feedback to ensure they were relevant and appropriately targeted to the public., Methods: Thirteen semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of participants chosen for maximum variation of age and sex were conducted. Two investigators analysed the data independently using a deductive approach and then came to consensus by discussion., Results: The main themes were a wide-ranging level of knowledge and opinions about bats, the resources having an effect on people, and messaging in relation to children and pets being particularly important., Conclusion: This study highlighted the complexities of risk communication to a broad audience with varied experience and knowledge about bats, and the importance of evaluation prior to implementation to ensure risk communication is relevant and appealing to the intended audience. SO WHAT?: Field testing of health education material prior to implementation is an effective way to ensure key messages are understood, and is important when communicating about fatal but preventable zoonoses such as ABLV., (© 2023 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

The 2019–2020 megafires in southeastern Australia extensively burnt forests including fire‐sensitive rainforests. Assessments of species' responses typically consider differences in occupancy or density between burnt and unburnt forest, but here we focus on how these fires influenced roost selection by a rainforest‐dependent bat. We radio‐tracked golden‐tipped bats Phoniscus papuensis in fire grounds to investigate whether roost location or type was influenced by fire severity one‐year post‐fire. Overall, we tracked 19 bats for a total of 117 roost‐days. Bats roosted (including maternity colonies) in the suspended nests of yellow‐throated scrub‐wrens and brown gerygone, typically in gully rainforest. No bats were captured, or roosts located, where fire severity was high. In the burnt portion of the northern study area, P. papuensis displayed a significant preference for roosting in unburnt rainforest compared to its availability along adjacent gullies. Patches of rainforest burnt by low–moderate severity fire were ranked as second preference. In the burnt portion of the southern study area, most roosts were in rainforest mapped as burnt by low–moderate fire severity, however, no selection was evident relative to availability of rainforest and mapped fire severity. Actual roost locations in the southern study area revealed that 62% were in small pockets of unburnt rainforest, with burnt areas nearby. We recorded early breeding and signs of a second litter in late summer, suggesting a post‐fire resource pulse in their prey (spiders). A higher than usual reproductive output may assist in recovery, along with the bat's mobility to aid finding remaining pockets of unburnt or low severity burnt rainforest with suitable bird nests for roosting. However, recolonization of rainforest burnt by high severity fire will first require recovery of structural complexity, microclimate and the recolonization of host bird‐built nests. We recommend ongoing monitoring to assess the recovery of this specialist bat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is a rapidly expanding renewable technology with massive global investments; however, operating turbines are associated with bat strikes globally, and evidence suggests that without intervention, wind farm collisions could drive some common species to extinction. One widely regarded method for reducing strike mortality is operational mitigation, or curtailment, where turbine operation is restricted at low wind speeds. Despite an increasing number of studies in the Northern Hemisphere demonstrating curtailment effectiveness, no empirical studies have yet been conducted in Australia. This paper reports the findings of a curtailment study implemented at the Cape Nelson North wind farm in southwest Victoria, Australia. Conservation detection dog teams conducted mortality surveys between January and April in 2018 (before; pre‐curtailment) and 2019 (after; during curtailment). Results were consistent with similar studies in the USA and Europe, as curtailment significantly reduced pooled species mortality by 54%. Bat calls did not decline during the study period, and thus were not an explanation for the reduction in fatalities. This study demonstrates that curtailment is a valid method for reducing bat turbine collision in south‐eastern Australia. Consideration should be given to curtailment as a means to reduce bat turbine impacts in Australia, particularly at sites with known endangered and threatened populations, as we act to reduce anthropogenic climate change and its time‐sensitive negative consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a member of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family and is found in Australian bat species. It is of public health concern because of the rabies‐like syndrome it causes in humans, resulting in government health and wildlife agencies using varied communication approaches to inform targeted audiences about zoonotic risks associated with handling bats. Despite these warnings, the number of reports of human‐bat interactions remains high. This paper details a survey conducted to analyse the approaches utilised by a range of stakeholders to educate and communicate warnings to their target audiences. The survey focused on identifying the target audiences, communication methods used, along with the message frequency, content, and perceived effectiveness. Analysis of the top three messages delivered by stakeholders revealed that over half were information‐focused messages and over a third, instruction‐focused. Stakeholders identified the need to balance messaging about bat handling risks with information regarding the vulnerable status of bats and their environmental significance. Whilst the most common and (perceived) effective method of communication was one‐on‐one discussions, it was also identified to be ineffective for targeting mass audiences leading stakeholders to recognise the need to adapt to more efficient means of communication. The outcomes of this study may be useful to improve risk communication strategies regarding ABLV in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA rhabdovirus capable of causing fatal acute encephalitis in humans with similar pathogenesis to its closest serologic relative, rabies virus (RABV). In this review, we describe emergence and classification of ABLV, its known virology, reservoirs, and hosts, as well as both the pathogenesis and treatment approaches currently employed for presumed infections. ABLV was first identified in New South Wales, Australia in 1996 and emerged in humans months later in Queensland, Australia. Only five known bat reservoirs, all of which fall within the Pteropus and Saccolaimus genera, have been identified to date. Although ABLV antigens have been identified in bats located outside of Australia, the three known human ABLV infections to date have occurred within Australia. As such, there remains a potential for ABLV to expand its presence within and beyond Australia. ABLV infections are currently treated as if they were RABV infections by administering neutralizing antibodies against RABV at the site of the wound and employing the rabies vaccine upon possible exposures. Due to its recent emergence, there is still much left unknown about ABLV, posing concerns with how to safely and effectively address current and future ABLV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Old World trident bat (Rhinonycteridae) is described from an early Miocene cave deposit in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland, Australia. Living rhinonycterids comprise a small family of insect-eating, nasal-emitting rhinolophoid bats from Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, the Middle East, and northern Australia. The new fossil species is one of at least 12 rhinonycterid species known from the Oligo-Miocene cave deposits at Riversleigh. We refer the new species to the genus Xenorhinos (Hand, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18, 430-439, 1998a) because it shares a number of unusual cranial features with the type and only other species of the genus, X. halli, including a broad rostrum, very wide interorbital region, pronounced ventral flexion of the rostrum, very constricted sphenoidal bridge, and, within the nasal fossa, reduced bony division, and relatively well developed turbinals. Xenorhinos species lived in northern Australia during the global Miocene Climatic Optimum, in closed wet forests, unlike the drier habitats that trident bats largely inhabit today. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that more than one dispersal event gave rise to the Australian rhinonycterid radiation, with two lineages having sister-group relationships with non-Australian taxa., (© 2023 The Authors. The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) shows similar clinical symptoms as rabies, but there are currently no protein structures available for ABLV proteins. In lyssaviruses, the interaction between nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (N) in the absence of RNA generates a complex (N 0 P) that is crucial for viral assembly, and understanding the interface between these two proteins has the potential to provide insight into a key feature: the viral lifecycle. In this study, we used recombinant chimeric protein expression and X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of ABLV nucleoprotein bound to residues 1-40 of its phosphoprotein chaperone. Comparison of our results with the recently generated structure of RABV CVS-11 N 0 P demonstrated a highly conserved interface in this complex. Because the N 0 P interface is conserved in the lyssaviruses of phylogroup I, it is an attractive therapeutic target for multiple rabies-causing viral species., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for potential lyssavirus exposures consists of wound management, rabies vaccination and may include rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). Rabies serology is sometimes indicated if there is risk of PEP failure., Objectives: Evaluate the benefit of serology by indication., Methods: Chart review of potential lyssavirus exposures managed at a Public Health Unit (June 2015 - December 2022) where serology was requested was conducted. The proportion of non-therapeutic titres was compared by sex, age, Indigenous status, serology indication, and whether RIG was given., Results: 46 notifications with serology were included. Males (5/19) and people over 40 (3/16) were more likely to demonstrate a non-therapeutic response. 2/3 of cases where vaccine doses were not given in the deltoid were non-therapeutic. The rate of non-therapeutic titres was similar for RIG given into the ipsilateral arm (2/11) and given excess RIG for weight (1/4). Although this small sample was inconclusive in isolation, it was also noted that all cases who did not receive RIG had therapeutic serology, whereas 6/35 of those receiving RIG had non-therapeutic serology., Conclusions: This study supports broader literature questioning the utility of systemic RIG administration as likely limited and potentially detrimental considering the increased risk of immune interference., Implications for Public Health: Highlights a need to review Australian national guidelines to align with World Health Organization advice recommending local RIG administration only., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

BatMap is a project that has enabled the development of spatial distribution maps for all mainland Australian and Tasmanian bat species. The distribution maps were developed by bat experts and are actively updated and maintained by utilising the collective knowledge of the members of the Australasian Bat Society. Distribution maps are the most accurate maps that are currently available for Australian bat species. The distribution maps are freely available on-line in a variety of formats. The distribution maps have been used for a variety of purposes, including the assessment of the spatial and taxonomic accuracy of bat records from ecological datasets, particularly datasets that are managed by the Atlas of Living Australia, which are considered by many to be the key source of spatial information for bats. BatMap enables better conservation outcomes for Australian bat fauna through the provision of authoritative, readily accessible and usable maps that can be used to increase the accuracy and reliability of bat records that contribute to decision making processes for conservation purposes. BatMap (https://www.ausbats.org.au/batmap.html) is a set of distribution maps, that have been developed by experts, for every bat species in Australia. The maps can be used for a variety of purposes including: discovering where bats occur; checking the accuracy of bat records; brochures and posters; and assessing areas proposed for development against bat species that are likely to occur there. Knowing what bats occur where can help us to better manage and achieve better conservation outcomes for the Australian bat fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic vaccination against rabies is essential for individuals at continuing risk of rabies exposure. There is limited evidence on long-term immunogenicity after a 3-dose intramuscular (3IM) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and single IM booster dose, thus current guideline recommendations differ in the interval for serology tests following PrEP and boosters. This study investigated post-PrEP and post-booster persistence of antibodies in Australian bat carers. Bat carers who received 3IM PrEP/booster doses and had post-PrEP/booster serology test results were included. The proportion of antibody-negative (<0.5 EU/mL) individuals after PrEP/booster dose were examined. Three hundred and five participants (65.6% females, median age at PrEP 43.1 years) were included. The proportion who were antibody-negative varied depending on the time between 3IM PrEP and the serology test: 8.0% <1 year, 29.8% 1-2 years, 21.2% 2-3 years and 7.7% >3 years. Ninety-one participants receiving booster doses were further assessed. Only one participant was antibody-negative at >3 years after receiving one IM booster dose. Our findings support that a serology test should be performed 1 year after 3IM PrEP, followed by first booster if required. Rabies antibodies persist for many years after receiving the booster doses. The interval between subsequent serology tests and the first booster dose should be no longer than 3 years. Future studies are required to provide more insight into the most appropriate timing of subsequent boosters., (© 2023 The Authors. Zoonoses and Public Health published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Human–bat interactions are now the source of the majority of locally acquired human lyssavirus infections in many high‐income countries without hematophagous or 'vampire' bat species. This study aims to identify the most common types and circumstances of bat exposures occurring among members of the general public in high‐income countries with no hematophagous bats, and to describe the health‐seeking behaviours associated with exposures in these settings. We conducted a scoping review of relevant academic and grey literature on bat exposures and confirmed bat lyssavirus infections among members of the general public in Australia, Canada, the United States and high‐income European countries from 1996 to 2019. Case studies and population‐based studies were included for analysis, and findings were extracted and synthesized by the literature type and geographic region. A total of 63 publications were identified, including: 47 case studies and 16 population‐based studies. Overall, most exposures in Australia and Europe were intentionally initiated by humans and involved attempts to handle, touch or help a bat. In North America, however, household exposures were more common and predominantly involved a bat being found in a room or area where a person had slept. Studies also showed that a proportion of bat exposures in high‐income countries go unreported in the absence of a public health investigation and are therefore unlikely to receive prompt treatment. The results of this review suggest that the most effective strategies for preventing bat exposures vary between regions and that health‐seeking behaviours following bat exposures could be improved in high‐income settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, there are at least 50 000 derelict mines, many of which provide habitat for cave-roosting bats. Grating of derelict mines, be it horizontal (adits) or vertical (shafts) drives, is commonly undertaken to prevent human access, though longer-term responses of bats are largely unknown. We assessed the long-term (2–20 years) effects of grating on bats by documenting trends in emergence activity and bat abundance at grated and ungrated derelict mines and quantified behavioural responses of bats in autumn and winter. Emergence activity was dominated by the eastern horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus) with limited activity of other less manoeuvrable species. Both emergence activity and minimum colony size at horizontal adits were 8–9 times greater than at vertical shafts, with bats observed emerging from only 2 of 13 shafts. Emergence activity and minimum colony size were 7–10 times greater at adits with 'bat friendly' grating (horizontal bars with spacing >125 mm) than at other treatments (ungrated adits and adits with standard grating). In winter, there were 4–11 times more aborted exit attempts per bat at adits with 'bat friendly' grating compared with other treatments, which corresponded to greater emergence activity. Emergence activity and minimum colony size were not related to spacing between bars or time since grating, indicating rapid habituation by R. megaphyllus. However, circling at grates continued for many years and bentwing bats (Miniopterus spp.) made little use of these sites. Bat-friendly grates appear to be an effective management option for R. megaphyllus , but alternatives need to be trialled for other species. Derelict mines can provide habitat for cave-roosting bats but are often grated to prevent human access, with little known about the long-term responses of bats. We assessed the long-term effects of grating on bats and found that although there was rapid habituation to grated mines, altered flight behaviour was present decades after grating and there was little use of these sites by threatened species. This suggests that alternative management of derelict mines is required to conserve threatened bat roosting habitat. Photo by Leroy Gonsalves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi‐arid and arid landscapes (dry‐lands) cover 41% of the Earth's land surface over five continents. These areas are home to 55% of mammal species. Bats have the second highest species richness among mammals, and, although many species are adapted to arid conditions, they are particularly sensitive in these habitats and require conservation priority.Information on bats in arid and semi‐arid landscapes is scattered, patchy and focused on small‐scale studies; therefore, we undertook a systematic review using the PRISMA protocol to identify the current knowledge status, detect knowledge gaps and propose future research priorities.We analysed 346 published articles and evaluated 40 topics within five topic categories (taxa studied, methodologies used, biology, ecology and conservation). The most commonly studied topic categories were ecology and biology. However, we found a gap in the topic category conservation (including topics such as conservation status and roost conservation). Our network analysis of topics within the categories showed that most ecology papers were focused on distribution, species richness and habitat use.When we analysed keywords, we found that phylogeny, taxonomy and distribution demonstrated relatively high presence. Moreover, comparison of the percentage of studies conducted in dry‐lands and the percentage of land surface area covered by dry‐lands in the continents revealed that dry‐lands in Africa and Australia were especially under‐represented. Our review shows that knowledge of bats in semi‐arid and arid landscapes is biased towards new records of the distribution of species, as well as covering systematic/taxonomic and morphological aspects of bat biology.We suggest that research on conservation measures and guidelines to protect the bat species found in semi‐arid and arid landscapes should be prioritised, together with the sharing of knowledge with local practitioners and the development of citizen science programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat boxes are frequently used as conservation and habitat-offset measures, yet their effectiveness is equivocal, particularly in Australia. Boxes used in Australia are largely voluminous-type boxes with Chalinolobus gouldii (Gould's wattled bat) frequently dominating their use. We tested multichambered boxes comprising fissure-type cavities made from either plywood (~20 000 cm3) or woodcement (~7400 cm3). We investigated whether occupancy was influenced by box colour (white boxes facing morning sun versus black boxes facing afternoon sun), box material/size, chamber width (15 mm versus 20 mm) and box host (tree versus pole). Boxes were monitored over 1.8 years. Overall, 245 bat observations were recorded. Boxes were frequently used (15% of 1088 box checks) by Nyctophilus geoffroyi (lesser long-eared bat), a species uncommonly reported to use boxes, which used 50 of the 64 boxes (78%), including for maternity roosting (n = 6). In comparison, C. gouldii was rarely detected (1% of box checks). Two other species were also found in boxes at low frequencies. Modelling showed a preference by N. geoffroyi for black boxes, the larger plywood box and boxes installed on poles. Fissure-type boxes appear to meet the roost requirements of N. geoffroyi but not that of C. gouldii , the species principally detected in voluminous-type boxes and postulated to gain a competitive advantage. The black woodcement box was the second most frequently used design, demonstrating that this long-lasting box material can be a suitable alternative to the less durable plywood material. Given that just one species commonly used boxes, there is a need for further research on box designs. The frequent use of bat boxes as conservation and habitat-offset tools has outpaced the research required to implement bat box programs effectively. We tested narrow-chambered boxes. These boxes were attractive for Nyctophilus geoffroyi (lesser long-eared bat) but not for Chalinalobus gouldii (Gould's wattled bat), a species postulated to gain a competitive advantage where voluminous-type boxes are installed. N. geoffroyi showed a preference for warm boxes and the plywood box. Given that just one species commonly used the tested boxes, there is a need for further research on box designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat boxes are often used as a conservation tool in human-disturbed landscapes across Australia; however, to assess their effectiveness we need to understand the factors influencing their occupancy by insectivorous bats. We investigated roost selection by Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) using 76 bat boxes, comprising six designs, across three sites in suburban Melbourne, Australia. We conducted monthly surveys for a year and recorded the physical characteristics of each box. Five species of bats were recorded but Gould's wattled bats dominated box occupancy year-round at all three sites. Group sizes ranged from 1 to 58 individuals, with maternity colonies forming over summer. There was little consistency in the use of selection criteria by Gould's wattled bats when choosing a bat box as a day roost, with considerable variability across sites and seasons, highlighting the flexibility in roost site selection by this widespread, adaptable species. Our findings show that bat boxes can be an effective tool for providing supplementary roosts for Gould's wattled bats in urbanised landscapes. However, little is known about the impact on the whole bat community, especially disturbance-sensitive taxa, of artificially increasing roosting resources for common species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roost selection and diet are fundamentally important to bats and can vary geographically and with habitat. The greater broad-nosed bat (Scoteanax rueppellii) is infrequently captured and poorly known, meaning appropriate conservation actions are difficult to determine. To assess variation across different habitats, we collected faecal samples for dietary analysis and radio-tracked individuals to identify roost trees at four different sites across New South Wales, Australia. Analysis of droppings verified beetles as the main prey in each study area except one dominated by mangroves, and confirmed for the first time carnivory in wild-caught individuals from the presence of hair from other bat species in its droppings. Very large, hollow trees were used as maternity roosts, being typically larger than neighbouring trees. Roosting habitat varied from wet sclerophyll forest in gullies to old-growth mangroves, and tree species used as roosts also varied. Colony size at maternity roosts was often 50–100 bats and fidelity to the maternity roost varied, with some being switched almost daily and others occupied for at least several days. One maternity roost was re-used 2 years later. Both the importance of beetles in the diet and roosts located in more productive landscapes suggest coastal plains and foothills may represent key habitat. Understanding a species' ecology across different geographic regions provides a sound basis for improving its conservation. Greater broad-nosed bats were captured and radio-tracked in different regions to describe roosts used and diet. Beetles were the main prey in each study area except one dominated by mangroves, and for the first time carnivory in wild-caught individuals was documented. Very large, hollow trees were used as maternity roosts, but vegetation associations and tree species varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is notably becoming more intense, frequent and widespread due to climate change. In northern Australia, inappropriate fire regimes have been implicated in mammal declines, yet nothing is known about how different aspects of fire regimes affect bats in this region. This study aimed to determine how fire intensity, associated with seasonality, affects insectivorous bats on a local scale. An experimental M BACI approach was used on five site replicates across Cape York Peninsula, where ultrasonic detectors were used to determine the activity of insectivorous bats in response to low intensity burns (LIBs) and high intensity burns (HIBs) on a local scale. Total bat activity increased due to LIBs, but showed no response to HIBs. Activity of edge-open guild bats also increased due to LIBs but decreased in response to HIBs. Activity of open guild bats was unaffected by LIBs, but exhibited a strong positive response to HIBs. Activity of closed guild bats showed no response to fire, or fire intensity. Responses were likely derived from changes in habitat structure and prey availability. Given that each bat guild responded differently to each fire intensity, this lends support to the 'pyrodiversity begets biodiversity' concept, which is currently the basis for many fire management practices for conservation in northern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small insectivorous bats often enter a state of torpor, a controlled, reversible decrease in body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor provides substantial energy savings and is used more extensively during periods of low temperature and reduced prey availability. We studied torpor use and activity of a small (10.1 ± 0.4 g) fishing bat, Myotis macropus , during winter in a mild climate in Australia. We predicted that the thermal stability of water would make foraging opportunities in winter more productive and consistent in a riparian habitat compared to a woodland habitat, and therefore, fishing bats would use torpor less than expected during winter compared to other bats. Using temperature-sensitive radio transmitters, we recorded the skin temperature of 12 adult (6 M, 6 F) bats over 161 bat-days (13.4 ± 5.4 days per bat) during Austral winter (late May to August), when daily air temperature averaged 6.2–18.2°C. Bats used torpor every day, with bouts lasting a median of 21.3 h and up to 144.6 h. Multiday torpor bouts were more common in females than males. Arousals occurred just after sunset and lasted 3.5 ± 2.9 h. Arousals tended to be longer in males than females and to occur on warmer evenings, suggesting some winter foraging and perhaps male harem territoriality or other mating-related activity was occurring. The extensive use of torpor by M. macropus during relatively mild winter conditions when food is likely available suggests torpor might function to minimize the risks of mortality caused by activity and to increase body condition for the upcoming breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mega‐fires in the Australian summer of 2019–20 resulted in the largest ever documented forest fire extent. These fires impacted many species, but individual responses remain poorly known, making assessments of their conservation status and ongoing threats uncertain. We assessed the influence of the 2019–20 mega‐fires on habitat occupancy in the golden‐tipped bat Phoniscus papuensis, a specialist which roosts in suspended birds' nests and occurs in relictual Gondwanan rainforest not typically exposed to fire. We used trapping and accounted for nightly detection probability (lower detection with increasing rainfall) to estimate site occupancy. Occupancy increased with the local (1 km buffer surrounding each site) extent of rainforest, gullies and unburnt forest. The model predicted a strong negative effect of fire in the surrounding buffer, with occupancy reduced from >90% at sites with suitable habitat (extensive rainforest and gully systems) surrounded by unburnt forest to 20% when the entire surrounding area was burnt (regardless of severity). Gully rainforest sites surrounded by a mixture of burnt and unburnt forest were modelled to have intermediate occupancy values. On average, fire severity mapping revealed that 22% of rainforest in the 1 km buffer surrounding our burnt sites was unburnt, 61% had a low severity burn, while 17% experienced a high severity burn. The lower occupancy of P. papuensis in burnt rainforest was associated with a reduction in the abundance of suspended bird nests, a critical resource used for day‐roosting. Our results quantify the effects of extreme fire events on animal populations in rainforest that is normally unaffected by fire. The large extent of rainforest burnt during the 2019–20 Australian season of 'mega‐fires' and its strong negative effect on occupancy highlights the vulnerability of animal species reliant on fire‐sensitive habitat to a climate‐change driven increase in such extreme fire events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During recent decades, pathogens that originated in bats have become an increasing public health concern. A major challenge is to identify how those pathogens spill over into human populations to generate a pandemic threat 1 . Many correlational studies associate spillover with changes in land use or other anthropogenic stressors 2,3 , although the mechanisms underlying the observed correlations have not been identified 4 . One limitation is the lack of spatially and temporally explicit data on multiple spillovers, and on the connections among spillovers, reservoir host ecology and behaviour and viral dynamics. We present 25 years of data on land-use change, bat behaviour and spillover of Hendra virus from Pteropodid bats to horses in subtropical Australia. These data show that bats are responding to environmental change by persistently adopting behaviours that were previously transient responses to nutritional stress. Interactions between land-use change and climate now lead to persistent bat residency in agricultural areas, where periodic food shortages drive clusters of spillovers. Pulses of winter flowering of trees in remnant forests appeared to prevent spillover. We developed integrative Bayesian network models based on these phenomena that accurately predicted the presence or absence of clusters of spillovers in each of the 25 years. Our long-term study identifies the mechanistic connections between habitat loss, climate and increased spillover risk. It provides a framework for examining causes of bat virus spillover and for developing ecological countermeasures to prevent pandemics., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Australia's 81 bat species play vital ecological and economic roles via suppression of insect pests and maintenance of native forests through pollination and seed dispersal. Bats also host a wide diversity of coronaviruses globally, including several viral species that are closely related to SARS-CoV-2 and other emergent human respiratory coronaviruses. Although there are hundreds of studies of bat coronaviruses globally, there are only three studies of bat coronaviruses in Australian bat species, and no systematic studies of drivers of shedding. These limited studies have identified two betacoronaviruses and seven alphacoronaviruses, but less than half of Australian species are included in these studies and further research is therefore needed. There is no current evidence of spillover of coronaviruses from bats to humans in Australia, either directly or indirectly via intermediate hosts. The limited available data are inadequate to determine whether this lack of evidence indicates that spillover does not occur or occurs but is undetected. Conversely, multiple international agencies have flagged the potential transmission of human coronaviruses (including SARS CoV-2) from humans to bats, and the consequent threat to bat conservation and human health. Australia has a long history of bat research across a broad range of ecological and associated disciplines, as well as expertise in viral spillover from bats. This strong foundation is an ideal platform for developing integrative approaches to understanding bat health and sustainable protection of human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatal effect of the Hendra virus was noticed first in Queensland, Australia in 1994 when several horses died from an "unidentified cause". This was followed by the death of trainers and veterinarians called to assist affected horses. It is now known that the "unidentified cause", is a virus harboured in native Australian fruit bats. It is transmitted to horses when the bats are under stress due to lack of food, severe meteorological conditions and habitat destruction caused by both weather and urbanisation. This paper details how new biological knowledge and understanding of emerging viruses, in this case Hendra, can be used to foster high school students' interest in learning about disease, in particular the virus as a causative agent, enhance their understanding of biodiversity and appreciate the need for Australia's strict quarantine legislation. Opportunities for incorporation of these into classroom practice are highlighted throughout the paper and referenced to the Australian Curriculum F-10 Science and Senior Secondary Curriculum Biology (http:// www.australiancurriculum.edu.au). The paper provides a current, succinct summary of knowledge and understanding about the Hendra virus suitable for high school students with cited references garnered from Australian government and CSIRO websites and research publications--the latter providing more in-depth content if sought by students. For Australian students, an understanding of the Hendra virus and its life cycle is pertinent given Australia's unique biodiversity. High media attention and research investment, knowledge about the pathology of Hendra and the ecology of Australian fruit bats is now beginning to be understood. Up to July 2013, over thirty-six properties have been affected, involving the death of eighty horses, four people and two dogs. In 2012, a vaccine became available for horses but not for humans. Since the first identification of Hendra, horse owners have become aware of the pathology of this virus and, its effects on horses and people. From an international perspective, the emergence of this virus highlights once again the potential of zoonotic viruses to wreak havoc on ecosystems, livestock and people. Hendra is lethal and remains a rare disease.

Research Highlight: Lunn, T. J., Peel, A. J., Eby, P., Brooks, R., Plowright, R. K., Kessler, M. K., & McCallum, H. (2021). Counterintuitive scaling between population abundance and local density: Implications for modelling transmission of infectious diseases in bat populations. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13634. Quantifying the transmission of an infectious disease is often difficult and for natural animal systems it can be a major challenge. Animals move over time and space changing their degree of aggregation and rate of contact, which, in turn, affects the risk of infection and the onward spread of the pathogen. Capturing the fundamentals of these processes requires the identification of both the correct spatial scale at which the processes take place and what constitutes a meaningful host population unit. Lunn et al. collected data on the gregarious Pteropus (flying foxes) bats from roost sites in Australia and investigated whether total bat abundance at the roost level, the spatial scale commonly used to model pathogen spread in bat populations, was representative of bat measurements at the tree level, the scale at which pathogen transmission between bats most likely occurs. Their findings showed that bat population measurements at the sub‐plot level were strong predictors for potential transmission at the tree scale, while roost‐level measurements were less robust. This study suggests that bat abundance at roost is inadequate to capture the gregarious structure of bat populations and the fundamental processes of transmission at lower scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian Bat lyssaviruses (ABLV) are known to be endemic in bats in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. These viruses pose a public health risk because they cause a fatal disease in humans that is indistinguishable from classical rabies infection. All potentially infectious contact between bats and humans, or between bats and domestic animals, should be investigated to assess the risk of virus transmission by submitting the bat for testing to exclude ABLV infection. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of ABLV infection in bats submitted for testing in NSW and to document any trends or changes in submission and bat details. We examined all submissions of samples for ABLV testing received by the NSW Department of Primary Industries Virology Laboratory for the 13-year period between 1 May 2008 and 30 April 2021. Fifty-four (4.9%) ABLV-infected bats were detected, with some clustering of positive results. This is greater than the prevalence estimated from wild-caught bats. All bats should be considered a potential source of ABLV. In particular, flying-foxes with rabies-like clinical signs, and with known or possible human interaction, pose the highest public health risk because they are more likely to return a positive result for ABLV infection. This review of ABLV cases in NSW will help veterinarians to recognise the clinical presentations of ABLV infection in bats and emphasises the importance of adequate rabies vaccination for veterinarians., (© 2022 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)

Bats have been implicated as the reservoir hosts of filoviruses in Africa, with serological evidence of filoviruses in various bat species identified in other countries. Here, serum samples from 190 bats, comprising 12 different species, collected in Australia were evaluated for filovirus antibodies. An in-house indirect microsphere assay to detect antibodies that cross-react with Ebola virus ( Zaire ebolavirus ; EBOV) nucleoprotein (NP) followed by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were used to confirm immunoreactivity to EBOV and Reston virus ( Reston ebolavirus ; RESTV). We found 27 of 102 Yinpterochiroptera and 19 of 88 Yangochiroptera samples were positive to EBOV NP in the microsphere assay. Further testing of these NP positive samples by IFA revealed nine bat sera that showed binding to ebolavirus-infected cells. This is the first report of filovirus-reactive antibodies detected in Australian bat species and suggests that novel filoviruses may be circulating in Australian bats.

The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is Australia's largest echolocating bat. It is restricted to several disjunct populations in the north of the continent, including a population in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In 2016 the ghost bat was listed as Vulnerable under Australian federal legislation, owing to declining numbers across many regional populations. The most severe threat to ghost bats in the Pilbara region is the destruction and disturbance of habitat due to mining operations, but disturbance to their roosts from other infrastructure developments and changes to and loss of foraging habitat also pose significant threats. A set of research priorities for ghost bats in the Pilbara was developed during a workshop attended by mining industry representatives, environmental consultants, scientists and government regulators. Five research priorities were identified: (1) identify and characterise critical diurnal roosts and foraging habitat; (2) improve knowledge of the distribution, movement and dispersal patterns of ghost bats in the region; (3) improve knowledge of population size, persistence and long-term trends; (4) better understand the cumulative, direct and indirect impacts of mining and other development activities; and (5) better understand the threats posed by fence entanglements, cane toads and feral cats. The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is Australia's largest echolocating bat and one of its most distinctive. Ghost bats are under threat across northern Australia owing to activities such as mining and infrastructure development that destroys their roosts, vegetation clearing and grazing that diminishes their food resources, and the invasion of poisonous cane toads. This paper outlines research priorities for ghost bats in the Pilbara region, developed through a workshop involving scientists and representatives from the mining industry and government agencies. Photograph by Bruce Thomson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to suitable roosts is critical for the conservation of tree-hollow roosting bats worldwide. Availability of roost sites is influenced by human land-use, but also by the roosting requirements and behaviour of species. We investigated roosting behaviour of the lesser long-eared bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) and Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) in a rural landscape in south-eastern Australia. Forty-five N. geoffroyi and 27 C. gouldii were fitted with radio-transmitters, resulting in the location of 139 and 89 roosts, respectively. Most (88%) roosts occupied by male N. geoffroyi contained only a single individual. During the breeding season female colonies were larger, with maternity roosts containing 18.3 ± 5.7 (s.e.) individuals. Mean colony sizes for C. gouldii were 8.7 ± 1.4 individuals. Both species shifted roosts frequently: on average, individual N. geoffroyi moved every 2.2 ± 0.23 days and C. gouldii every 2.2 ± 0.14 days. Notably, lactating female N. geoffroyi shifted roosts more frequently than non-breeding females. Individuals of both species roosted within a discrete area, with roosts typically <300 m apart; and consistently returned there from foraging up to 12 km distant. This roosting behaviour highlights three important requirements: (1) a relatively large overall number of hollows to support a population; (2) discrete roost areas with a high density of suitable hollows in close proximity; and (3) a range of hollow types to provide the specialised roosts required, particularly for breeding. Bats that roost in tree hollows are dependent on sufficient hollows being available to support their behavioural pattern of shifting roost site regularly. Two common and widespread species, the lesser long-eared bat and Gould's wattled bat, showed complex patterns of roost use that varied between and within species. To support populations of bats in rural landscapes of south-eastern Australia, relatively large numbers of hollow-bearing trees in close proximity are required, incorporating a range of hollow types, particularly those preferred for breeding. Photo by Lindy Lumsden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) was first described in 1996 and has been regularly detected in Australian bats since that time. While the virus does not cause population level impacts in bats and has minimal impacts on domestic animals, it does pose a public health risk. For this reason, bats are monitored for ABLV and a national dataset is collated and maintained by Wildlife Health Australia. The 2010-2016 dataset was analysed using logistic regression and time-series analysis to identify predictors of infection status in bats and the factors associated with human exposure to bats. In common with previous passive surveillance studies, we found that little red flying-foxes ( Pteropus scapulatus ) are more likely than other species to be infected with ABLV. In the four Australian mainland species of flying-fox, there are seasonal differences in infection risk that may be associated with reproductive cycles, with summer and autumn the seasons of greatest risk. The risk of human contact was also seasonal, with lower risk in winter. In line with other studies, we found that the circumstances in which the bat is encountered, such as exhibiting abnormal behaviour or being grounded, are risk factors for ABLV infection and human contact and should continue be key components of public health messaging. We also found evidence of biased recording of some types of information, which made interpretation of some findings more challenging. Strengthening of "One Health" linkages between public health and animal health services at the operational level could help overcome these biases in future, and greater harmonisation nationally would increase the value of the dataset.

The spatial organization of populations determines their pathogen dynamics. This is particularly important for communally roosting species, whose aggregations are often driven by the spatial structure of their environment. We develop a spatially explicit model for virus transmission within roosts of Australian tree-dwelling bats (Pteropus spp.), parameterized to reflect Hendra virus. The spatial structure of roosts mirrors three study sites, and viral transmission between groups of bats in trees was modelled as a function of distance between roost trees. Using three levels of tree density to reflect anthropogenic changes in bat habitats, we investigate the potential effects of recent ecological shifts in Australia on the dynamics of zoonotic viruses in reservoir hosts. We show that simulated infection dynamics in spatially structured roosts differ from that of mean-field models for equivalently sized populations, highlighting the importance of spatial structure in disease models of gregarious taxa. Under contrasting scenarios of flying-fox roosting structures, sparse stand structures (with fewer trees but more bats per tree) generate higher probabilities of successful outbreaks, larger and faster epidemics, and shorter virus extinction times, compared to intermediate and dense stand structures with more trees but fewer bats per tree. These observations are consistent with the greater force of infection generated by structured populations with less numerous but larger infected groups, and may flag an increased risk of pathogen spillover from these increasingly abundant roost types. Outputs from our models contribute insights into the spread of viruses in structured animal populations, like communally roosting species, as well as specific insights into Hendra virus infection dynamics and spillover risk in a situation of changing host ecology. These insights will be relevant for modelling other zoonotic viruses in wildlife reservoir hosts in response to habitat modification and changing populations, including coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2., (© 2021 British Ecological Society.)

Torpor is a well-known energy conservation strategy in many mammal and bird species. It is often employed when environmental conditions are unfavourable to maximize survival probabilities. However, torpor often carries with it the physiological costs of a low body temperature and of rewarming in addition to potential missed opportunities for foraging. Therefore, we hypothesised that decision making regarding when to use torpor should reflect the most important environmental conditions for species distributions, and thus how they may be impacted by ongoing climate change. We investigated how weather conditions affect nightly torpor patterns in the nocturnal insectivorous Australian eastern long-eared bat (Nyctophilus bifax). By measuring the skin temperature of 37 free-ranging individuals, we confirmed that torpor was used more frequently during the winter and at subtropical compared to tropical locations. Using mixed-effect models we show that lower ambient temperatures were the main driver of individual torpor use, probably due to lower roost temperatures and prey availability. However, increased rain, wind and humidity, and decreasing barometric pressure, as well as brighter moonlight, also led to more time spent torpid per night. We suggest that bats evaluate multiple environmental cues to make decisions regarding torpor use versus active foraging based upon their expectations of the energetic benefits, prey availability and relative predation risk. Interactions between some of these effects and body mass (whilst controlling for forearm length) indicate that individual variation in body size and/or state-dependent effects of energy reserves also partly determined the use of nightly torpor in these bats., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a rhabdovirus that circulates in four species of pteropid bats (ABLVp) and the yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat (ABLVs) in mainland Australia. In the three confirmed human cases of ABLV, rabies illness preceded fatality. As with rabies virus (RABV), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for potential ABLV infections consists of wound cleansing, administration of the rabies vaccine and injection of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) proximal to the wound. Despite the efficacy of PEP, the inaccessibility of human RIG (HRIG) in the developing world and the high immunogenicity of equine RIG (ERIG) has led to consideration of human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) as a passive immunization option that offers enhanced safety and specificity. Using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) expressing the glycoprotein (G) protein of ABLVs and phage display, we identified two hmAbs, A6 and F11, which completely neutralize ABLVs/ABLVp, and RABV at concentrations ranging from 0.39 and 6.25 µg/mL and 0.19 and 0.39 µg/mL respectively. A6 and F11 recognize overlapping epitopes in the lyssavirus G protein, effectively neutralizing phylogroup 1 lyssaviruses, while having little effect on phylogroup 2 and non-grouped diverse lyssaviruses. These results suggest that A6 and F11 could be effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools for phylogroup 1 lyssavirus infections.

Summary: Despite ongoing public health messages about the risks associated with bat contact, the number of potential exposures to Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) due to intentional handling by members of the general public in Queensland has remained high. We sought to better understand the reasons for intentional handling among these members of the public who reported their potential exposure to inform future public health messages. We interviewed adults who resided in a defined geographic area in South East Queensland and notified potential exposure to ABLV due to intentional handling of bats by telephone between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013. The participation rate was 54%. Adults who reported they had intentionally handled bats in South East Queensland indicated high levels of knowledge and perception of a moderately high risk associated with bats with overall low intentions to handle bats in the future. However, substantial proportions of people would attempt to handle bats again in some circumstances, particularly to protect their children or pets. Fifty‐two percent indicated that they would handle a bat if a child was about to pick up or touch a live bat, and 49% would intervene if a pet was interacting with a bat. Future public health communications should recognize the situations in which even people with highrisk perceptions of bats will attempt to handle them. Public health messages currently focus on avoidance of bats in all circumstances and recommend calling in a trained vaccinated handler, but messaging directed at adults for circumstances where children or pets may be potentially exposed should provide safe immediate management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant biodiversity offset funds have been allocated towards conservation research on threatened species as part of the environmental approvals process for resource development in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. One of these species is the Pilbara leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia Pilbara form), which is entirely reliant on roosting in a limited number of caves and disused mines, many of which exist in the mineral-bearing strata that are the focus of mining activity. A research agenda for the Pilbara leaf-nosed bat was developed during a workshop attended by scientists, environmental consultants and mining industry representatives. Five research priorities were identified: (1) collate existing data contained within unpublished environmental surveys; (2) clarify and better characterise the number and distribution of day roosts; (3) better understand habitat requirements, particularly foraging habitat, and the movement of bats between roosts; (4) provide more robust estimates of total population and colony size, and improve understanding of social behaviour; and (5) investigate appropriate buffers in a range of mining contexts and protocols for artificial roost construction. Meta-analysis of current data, confirmation of potential day roosts, and long-term monitoring of activity patterns would rapidly increase our knowledge of the Pilbara leaf-nosed bat to enable effective conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of rainforest trees into long-unburnt open forests is widespread globally, including in high-rainfall regions of eastern Australia. Increased tree density can reduce insectivorous bat activity and species richness by constraining echolocation and foraging success. Yet it is unknown whether sclerophyll and rainforest trees differ in their effects on open forest bat communities. We sampled insectivorous bats and nocturnal flying insects at two heights (understorey, canopy) in dry sclerophyll forest of eastern Australia with contrasting fire histories and levels of rainforest pioneer invasion. We found that both time since fire and functional identity of midstorey trees influenced the local bat community, whereas insect biomass had little effect. Long-unburnt forests with a rainforest pioneer midstorey had lower bat activity (63% lower) and species richness (35% lower) than recently burnt forests with a more open midstorey. Bat species richness also declined beneath the dense sclerophyll midstorey in long-unburnt forests, although was unaffected in the canopy above. Strong negative correlations between rainforest tree density and bat community activity and richness indicate that rainforest trees, in contrast with sclerophyll trees, exert additional negative control over open forest bat communities. Our results show that habitat suitability for clutter-intolerant bats declined well before the often-recommended maximum fire-intervals for dry open forest, providing evidence of an upper threshold for fauna conservation in rainforest-invaded open forests. To conserve bat communities in dry open forests vulnerable to rainforest invasion, fire should occur with sufficient frequency to prevent rainforest pioneers developing a dense midstorey that displaces clutter-intolerant bats. The expansion of rainforest pioneer trees into long-unburnt open forests is widely reported, yet its effects on insectivorous bat communities is unknown. Examination of open forest with contrasting fire history and levels of rainforest pioneer invasion revealed that increasing rainforest tree density reduced bat activity and species richness. Bat community declines occurred before recommended maximum fire-intervals for dry open forest, suggesting that a review of fire-interval guidelines is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat collisions are a threat to commercial and military aircraft in Australia. We examined bat strike records from Australia during 1996-2006 and found that risk of impact from bats is increasing, is greatest in tropical versus temperate regions, and is more likely during early evening and while an aircraft is landing rather than departing. Temporal patterns of bat strikes differ from those of birds, highlighting the need to employ taxon-specific management strategies to minimize animal impacts on the aviation industry. The use of genetics for identification of strike remains and the implementation of nocturnal survey techniques by wildlife managers at airports will contribute to the mitigation of bat strikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive acoustic detectors are increasingly used for monitoring biodiversity, particularly for echolocating bat species (Microchiroptera). However, identification of calls collected at large scales is hindered by substantial variation within and between species, and the considerable time investment needed to manually identify acoustic data. We use acoustic data from 14 species of echolocating bats, occurring in temperate forests and woodlands of southeastern Australia to build a supervised classification model that identifies species from large acoustic datasets. Acoustic data from hand‐release (39,567) and free‐flying (8851) bat calls were used to build a predictive model, which was then validated using field‐collected calls (149,097) from the same region. We maximized the model fit per species by validating the associated confidence scores against manually identified presence and absence values. This allowed us to model the identification success of each species as a function of the confidence score. From this relationship, we set specific thresholds for accepting species identification, enabling more accurate classification of calls and identification of multiple bat species within a single acoustic recording. Including calls from manually identified free‐flying bats improved overall identification accuracy, including a 60% improvement for bats that navigate in open spaces. Assigning species‐specific thresholds achieved substantial improvements in overall model confidence, with functionally meaningful changes in the identification of species exhibiting considerable acoustic overlap in time and frequency measures. Research into the ecological requirements of species is hampered by problems with identification. Our research illustrates that internal train–test validation overestimates model accuracy particularly for species that were in low abundance or for uncommon species, which are acoustically similar to more common ones. Recognizing this, we set specific thresholds per species below which identifications were not accepted. Our method is particularly relevant in locations with high overlap in species' call parameters, which can result in false negatives in preference for species that are easier to identify because of the common practice of assigning one species per acoustic recording. This research proposes a cautious method to substantially reduce the burden of manual identification of large acoustic datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is common and occurs in 6-8% of all patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This paper describes the rationale behind the trial 'Randomized Evaluation of Beta Blocker and ACE-Inhibitor/Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Treatment (ACEI/ARB) of MINOCA patients' (MINOCA-BAT) and the need to improve the secondary preventive treatment of MINOCA patients. METHODS: MINOCA-BAT is a registry-based, randomized, parallel, open-label, multicenter trial with 2:2 factorial design. The primary aim is to determine whether oral beta blockade compared with no oral beta blockade, and ACEI/ARB compared with no ACEI/ARB, reduce the composite endpoint of death of any cause, readmission because of AMI, ischemic stroke or heart failure in patients discharged after MINOCA without clinical signs of heart failure and with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. A total of 3500 patients will be randomized into four groups; e.g. ACEI/ARB and beta blocker, beta blocker only, ACEI/ARB only and neither ACEI/ARB nor beta blocker, and followed for a mean of 4 years. SUMMARY: While patients with MINOCA have an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events and death, whether conventional secondary preventive therapies are beneficial has not been assessed in randomized trials. There is a limited basis for guideline recommendations in MINOCA. Furthermore, studies of routine clinical practice suggest that use of secondary prevention therapies in MINOCA varies considerably. Thus results from this trial may influence future treatment strategies and guidelines specific to MINOCA patients., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is a serious concern that white‐nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease causing severe population declines in North American bats, could soon threaten bats on the Australian continent. Despite an 'almost certain' risk of incursion within the next ten years, and high virulence in naïve bat populations, we remain uncertain about the vulnerability of Australian bats to WNS. In this study, we intersected occurrences for the 27 cave roosting bat species in Australia with interpolated data on mean annual surface temperature, which provides a proxy for thermal conditions within a cave and hence its suitability for growth by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Our analysis identifies favourable roost thermal conditions within 30–100% of the ranges of eight bat species across south‐eastern Australia, including for seven species already listed as threatened with extinction. These results demonstrate the potential for widespread exposure to P. destructans and suggest that WNS could pose a serious risk to the conservation of Australia's bat fauna. The impacts of exposure to P. destructans will depend, however, on the sensitivity of bats to developing WNS, and a more comprehensive vulnerability assessment is currently prevented by a lack of information on the hibernation biology of Australian bats. Thus, given the clear potential for widespread exposure of Australia's bats to P. destructans demonstrated by our study, two specific policy actions seem justified: (i) urgent implementation of border controls that identify and decontaminate cave‐associated fomites and (ii) dedicated funding to enable research on key aspects of bat winter behaviour and hibernation physiology. Further, as accidental translocation of this fungus could also pose a risk to other naïve bat faunas in cooler regions of southern Africa and South America, we argue that a proactive, globally coordinated approach is required to understand and mitigate the potential impacts of WNS spreading to Southern Hemisphere bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the social behaviour of roosting insectivorous bats in Australia. Interactions between individuals and movements between multiple roosts at a building maternity site of the chocolate wattled bat (Chalinolobus morio) were examined using video observation and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging, respectively. Bats of both sexes were seen to allogroom, which involved pairs of individuals simultaneously grooming each other around the face. This is the first occurrence of allogrooming reported between male vespertilionids, globally. In total, 366 bats were PIT tagged and analysis of movements revealed that bats exhibited a fission-fusion pattern of roost usage with sufficient switching among nearby roosts, such that all individuals were potentially able to associate and interact over a period of 150-200 days. Rates of roost fidelity varied markedly from 1 to 7.2 days of continuous occupancy of roosts, with females exhibiting slightly higher overall levels of fidelity over the nine-month monitoring period. The information gained from this study, when combined with results from other research, provides a sufficient basis for the description of the apparent breeding system for this species, where both males and females at the summer maternity roost are natally philopatric and mating takes place over winter in an expanded gene pool, comprising individuals that have dispersed from multiple summer maternity roosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferons are an essential component of the innate arm of the immune system and are arguably one of the most important lines of defence against viruses. The human IFN system and its functionality has already been largely characterized and studied in detail. However, the IFN systems of bats have only been marginally examined to date up until the recent developments of the Bat1k project which have now opened new opportunities in research by identifying six new bat genomes to possess novel genes that are likely associated with viral tolerance exhibited in bats. Interestingly, bats have been hypothesized to possess the ability to establish a host-virus relationship where despite being infected, they exhibit limited signs of disease and still retain the ability to transmit the disease into other susceptible hosts. Bats are one of the most abundant and widespread vertebrates on the planet and host many zoonotic viruses that are highly pathogenic to humans. Several genomics, immunological, and biological features are thought to underlie novel antiviral mechanisms of bats. This review aims to explore the bat IFN system and developments in its diverse IFN features, focusing mainly on the model species, the Australian black flying fox ( Pteropus alecto ), while also highlighting bat innate immunity as an exciting and fruitful area of research to understand their ability to control viral-mediated pathogenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Clayton and Munir.)

Context: Environmental change impacts natural ecosystems and wildlife populations. In Australia, native forests have been heavily cleared and the local emergence of Hendra virus (HeV) has been linked to land-use change, winter habitat loss, and changing bat behavior. Objectives: We quantified changes in landscape factors for black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto), a reservoir host of HeV, in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia from 2000–2020. We hypothesized that native winter habitat loss and native remnant forest loss were greatest in areas with the most human population growth. Methods: We measured the spatiotemporal change in human population size and native 'remnant' woody vegetation extent. We assessed changes in the observed P. alecto population and native winter habitats in bioregions where P. alecto are observed roosting in winter. We assessed changes in the amount of remnant vegetation across bioregions and within 50 km foraging buffers around roosts. Results: Human populations in these bioregions grew by 1.18 M people, mostly within 50 km foraging areas around roosts. Remnant forest extent decreased overall, but regrowth was observed when policy restricted vegetation clearing. Winter habitats were continuously lost across all spatial scales. Observed roost counts of P. alecto declined. Conclusion: Native remnant forest loss and winter habitat loss were not directly linked to spatial human population growth. Rather, most remnant vegetation was cleared for indirect human use. We observed forest loss and regrowth in response to state land clearing policies. Expanded flying fox population surveys will help better understand how land-use change has impacted P. alecto distribution and Hendra virus spillover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]