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Our aim was to investigate respiratory viruses circulating in animals from the urban Atlantic Forest, which is located in the most densely populated area near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This study focused on the detection of Influenza A viruses and diverse coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, in domestic and wild animals, including bats, nonhuman primates, rodents, and marsupials. From August 2020 to September 2022, biological samples were collected from a total of 72 pets, 66 primates, 20 rodents, 36 marsupials, and 390 bats. Samples were tested using RT-PCR for Influenza A and coronaviruses, and positive samples were sequenced. When blood samples were available, they were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. All terrestrial animals were negative for evidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A viruses. However, samples from 17 phyllostomid bats, including Great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus), Silky short-tailed bat (Carollia brevicauda), Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata), Common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis), Greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus), White-lined broad-nosed bat (Platyrrhinus lineatus), Little yellow-shouldered bat (Sturnira lilium), Greater round-eared bat (Tonatia bidens), and Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), were positive for bat coronaviruses classified as Alphacoronavirus. Our study adds new information on the occurrence of coronaviruses in bats and contributes to a long-term program of Influenza surveillance. Developing active surveillance for viruses in wildlife species, as implemented in this study, is crucial for understanding zoonotic risks and preventing future global pandemics., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Bats comprise one of the most diverse and abundant groups of mammals in the world and host a significant viral diversity with zoonotic potential. Bat adenoviruses (bat AdVs), members of the family Adenoviridae, have been detected in several bat species, suggesting that bats are natural reservoirs. Here, faeces and rectal/anal-swabs were collected from 321 bats of an urban Atlantic Forest remnant from Rio de Janeiro, during 2019-2022, and screened for bat AdV nucleic acid with PCR. The positivity of bat AdVs was 3.7 % (12/321). Twelve individuals of four bat species were infected: Artibeus lituratus (66.7 %; 8/12), Desmodus rotundus (8.3 %; 1/12), Platyrrhinus lineatus (16.7 %; 2/12), and Sturnira lilium (8.3 %; 1/12). Phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed that the detected bat AdVs clustered into four clades corresponding to the host species, identifying the presence of two potentially new bat adenoviruses. This is the first report of bat AdV detected in Platyrrhinus lineatus., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens associated with severe human diseases such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Despite the extensive study of rodent-borne hantaviruses, research on bat-associated hantaviruses remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and cross-reactivity of neotropical bat samples with rodent- and bat-associated recombinant hantavirus nucleoproteins (rNPs) to improve hantavirus surveillance in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The studied bat population consisted of 336 blood samples collected over nearly a decade in five Brazilian states (Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Minas Gerais). Antibodies were detected using IgG ELISA assays with rNPs from bat-borne Mobatvirus xuansonense (XSV) and Loanvirus brunaense (BRNV) and the rodent-borne hantaviruses Orthohantavirus andesense (ANDV) and Orthohantavirus seoulense (SEOV). Results indicated a higher seroprevalence for the BRNV rNP (36.6%) compared to ANDV (7.4%), SEOV (5.7%), and XSV (0.6%). The high sensitivity of the BRNV rNP and the cross-reactivity observed with the ANDV rNP, the main protein used for serological tests in the Americas, indicates that BRNV rNP is a better antigen for the accurate detection of antibodies against hantaviruses in Brazilian bats. These findings underscore the presence of unknown hantaviruses antigenically similar to BRNV in Brazilian bat populations and highlight the urgent need for identifying better antigens for comprehensive hantavirus monitoring in bats.

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and play a central role in ecosystem dynamics. They are also important reservoirs of potentially zoonotic microorganisms, of which rabies virus is the most lethal among the bat-transmitted zoonotic pathogens. Importantly, recent outbreaks of human rabies have been reported from the Brazilian Amazon. Here we present a survey of bat species and rabies virus (RABV) circulation in a bat assemblage in the Marajó region, northern Brazil. Using data from mist-net captures and bioacoustic sampling, 56 bat species were recorded along the Jacundá River basin over a 10-day expedition in November 2022. For the investigation of RABV, we used the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). In total, 159 bat individuals from 22 species were investigated for RABV. Five adults of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, showed RABV-specific antibodies in serum samples. Additionally, we report on local residents with injuries caused by D. rotundus bites and the occurrence of colonies of non-hematophagous bats from different species roosting inside human residences. This scenario raises concerns about the risks of new cases of human rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with bats in the region and highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and mitigation measures to prevent outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Myotis originated during the Oligocene in Eurasia and has become one of the most diverse bat genera, with over 140 species. In the case of neotropical Myotis , there is a high degree of phenotypic conservatism. This means that the taxonomic and geographic limits of several species are not well understood, which constrains detailed studies on their ecology and evolution and how to effectively protect these species. Similar to other organisms, bats may respond to climate change by moving to different areas, adapting to new conditions, or going extinct. Ecological niche models have become established as an efficient and widely used method for interpolating (and sometimes extrapolating) species' distributions and offer an effective tool for identifying species conservation requirements and forecasting how global environmental changes may affect species distribution. How species respond to climate change is a key point for understanding their vulnerability and designing effective conservation strategies in the future. Thus, here, we assessed the impacts of climate change on the past and future distributions of two phylogenetically related species, Myotis ruber and Myotis keaysi . The results showed that the species are influenced by changes in temperature, and for M. ruber , precipitation also becomes important. Furthermore, M. ruber appears to have been more flexible to decreases in temperature that occurred in the past, which allowed it to expand its areas of environmental suitability, unlike M. keaysi , which decreased and concentrated these areas. However, despite a drastic decrease in the spatial area of environmental suitability of these species in the future, there are areas of potential climate stability that have been maintained since the Pleistocene, indicating where conservation efforts need to be concentrated in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land-cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large-sized species. Here we present a data set from camera trap surveys of medium to large-sized native mammals (>1 kg) across the Atlantic Forest. We compiled data from 5380 ground-level camera trap deployments in 3046 locations, from 2004 to 2020, resulting in 43,068 records of 58 species. These data add to existing data sets of mammals in the Atlantic Forest by including dates of camera operation needed for analyses dealing with imperfect detection. We also included, when available, information on important predictors of detection, namely the camera brand and model, use of bait, and obstruction of camera viewshed that can be measured from example pictures at each camera location. Besides its application in studies on the patterns and mechanisms behind occupancy, relative abundance, richness, and detection, the data set presented here can be used to study species' daily activity patterns, activity levels, and spatiotemporal interactions between species. Moreover, data can be used combined with other data sources in the multiple and expanding uses of integrated population modeling. An R script is available to view summaries of the data set. We expect that this data set will be used to advance the knowledge of mammal assemblages and to inform evidence-based solutions for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest. The data are not copyright restricted; please cite this paper when using the data., (© 2024 The Ecological Society of America.)

Histiotus is a Neotropical genus of bat that currently includes 11 species. The systematics of Histiotus has been the focus of several studies over the last decades. However, no broad systematic revision has been made, and taxonomic issues such as synonymies, use of subspecies, and specimens that do not fit the description of valid species still persist, as pointed out by several authors. Histiotusalienus was described in 1916 and is known only by the holotype. Here we present a second record of H.alienus and an amended diagnosis of this species. We use qualitative, quantitative, and morphometric analyses based on data from 184 specimens of Histiotus and almost all valid species. Our amended diagnosis establishes the taxonomic limits of H.alienus , as well as a comprehensive comparison with congeners. We also explore new diagnostic characters for H.alienus and provide a few notes on the natural history of this species. Our results highlight skull similarities among Histiotus species and reinforce the usefulness of external morphology for their correct identification. Despite our new insights into the taxonomy of the genus, several taxonomic issues remain, and a comprehensive revision of the genus is needed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Vinícius C. Cláudio, Brunna Almeida, Roberto L. M. Novaes, Marcos A. Navarro, Liliani M. Tiepolo, Ricardo Moratelli.)

Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by rabies virus (RABV) that affects human health and the economy. RABV is transmitted mainly by bats in Brazil, and surveillance in remote areas is hampered by the difficulty of properly collecting samples during fieldwork and the diagnosis is performed in laboratory conditions. Here, we report a portable electrochemical biosensor based on nucleic acid interactions for RABV detection in nasopharyngeal swab samples. The working electrode of the biosensor is composed of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) thin-film immobilized with cDNA through pi-pi stacking to enhance virus detection and specificity. Sensor performance was determined using RNA, and swab samples from bats. RNA detection shows good selectivity, and quantification presents a highly linear calibration curve (R 2  = 0.990) using a concentration range of 0.145-25.39 ng/μL. A LOD of 0.104 ng/μL was reached with a sensitivity of 0.321 μA (ng/μL) -1 . RABV detection in nasopharyngeal swab samples showed a good difference of positive sample from negative with a response time in seconds, ultra-fast detection compared to known techniques. Three biosensor groups were identified and named after physic-chemical surface characterization as: GO-1, GO-2, and rGO; with best performance for rGO group due to its sp 2 hybridized network. Thus, we have successfully fabricated a promising electrochemical biosensor for fast in-situ detection of the RABV in swab samples, which can be expanded to other enveloped viruses that have RNA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing 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 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mixed infections by different Trypanosoma species or genotypes are a common and puzzling phenomenon. Therefore, it is critical to refine the diagnostic techniques and to understand to what extent these methods detect trypanosomes. We aimed to develop an accessible strategy to enhance the sensitivity of the hemoculture, as well as to understand the limitations of the hemoculture and the blood clot as a source of parasitic DNA. We investigated trypanosomatid infections in 472 bats by molecular characterization (18S rDNA gene) of the DNA obtained from the blood clot and, innovatively, from three hemoculture sample types: the amplified flagellates ("isolate"), the pellet of the culture harvested in its very initial growth stage ("first aliquot"), and the pellet of non-grown cultures with failure of amplification ("sediment"). We compared (a) the characterization of the flagellates obtained by first aliquots and isolates; and (b) the performance of the hemoculture and blood clot for trypanosomatid detection. We observed: (i) a putative new species of Bodo in Artibeus lituratus ; (ii) the potential of Trypanosoma cruzi selection in the hemoculture; (iii) that the first aliquots and sediments overcome the selective pressure of the hemoculture; and (iv) that the blood clot technique performs better than the hemoculture. However, combining these methods enhances the detection of single and mixed infections., Competing Interests: : The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Myotis is the most diverse genus of bats in the world, with more than 30 species recognized in the Neotropics. However, many of these species represent cryptic complexes and are evidence of the existence of hidden diversity in several regions. Using an integrative approach based on molecular, morphological, and bioacoustic data, we performed a systematic review of Myotis species from Chile. Phylogenetic inference using cytochrome-b indicated the existence of three monophyletic lineages, and qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses supported these lineages as distinct and morphologically diagnosable taxa. Analysis of discriminant functions using parameters of echolocation calls also indicates the existence of three distinct bioacoustic clusters. Thus, all lines of evidence congruently indicate the existence of three distinct taxa. As a result, we recognize Myotis arescens as a valid and distinct species and define its taxonomic limits from the other species from Chile, Myotis atacamensis and Myotis chiloensis.

Cruzia tentaculata is a helminth parasite of marsupials and has a wide geographic distribution from Mexico to Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic population structure of this nematode along the Atlantic Forest biome. Cruzia tentaculata specimens were recovered from Didelphis aurita , Didelphis albiventris and Philander quica in 9 localities. Morphological and morphometric data were investigated for phenotypic diversity among localities and hosts using multivariate discriminant analysis of principal components. Phylogenetic relationships of C. tentaculata were determined using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The population structure was analysed by fixation indices, molecular variance analysis, Tajima's D and Fu's F s neutrality tests, Mantel tests and Bayesian clustering analysis. A higher significant morphometric difference for males was observed between localities. In the haplogroup networks, 2 groups were recovered, separating locations from the north and from the south/southeast. The morphometric variation in C . tentaculata between different localities was compatible with this north and southeast/south pattern, suggesting adaptation to different ecological conditions. Population genetic analyses suggested a pattern of evolutionary processes driven by Pleistocene glacial refugia in the northeast and southeast of the Atlantic Forest based on the distribution of genetic diversity.

The Pedra Branca Forest is in a highly urbanised region of the central portion of Rio de Janeiro City and comprises the largest urban forest in the world (> 12,000 ha). The local flora and fauna are protected by three conservation units and the Estação Biológica Fiocruz Mata Atlântica (EFMA), which comprises 462 hectares on the east side of the remnant. The local biodiversity is still little known compared to other Atlantic Forest remnants from the Rio de Janeiro State. Here, we provide results of a survey of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals from the EFMA. In addition, we analysed the distribution of this fauna along three habitat types defined as Peridomicile, Transitional Forest and Forest Core. Sampling was performed from 2017 to 2020 and comprised a camera-trap survey, interviews with residents and local workers and occasional records. Results include occurrence records for 16 autochthonous and one allochthonous ( Callithrix sp.) wild mammals, which are distributed into 14 families and seven orders, in addition to the presence of free-ranging domestic dogs and cats. Four species are in some category of threat of extinction at national or global levels. Amongst them, Leontopithecusrosalia (first record for the Rio de Janeiro City in more than a century) and Leopardusguttulus are classified as Vulnerable by IUCN. Most wild native species were registered in the three habitat types, but with differences in the frequency of records. Our results indicate that the presence of domestic dogs and cats influenced the species composition in each area, with Nasuanasua , Dasyproctaleporina and Didelphisaurita less frequent in places where domestic dogs and cats are more frequent. This is the first systematic effort to understand the occurrence and distribution of mid- and large-sized mammals in the Pedra Branca Forest., (Iuri Veríssimo, Gabriel Cupolillo, Beatriz Maria da Silva Jorge, Roberto Leonan Morim Novaes, Jonatas Amorim Tavares, Monique Medeiros Gabriel, Sócrates Fraga Costa-Neto, Ademar Luiz Gomes do Couto, Ellen Schmidt, Amarildo Miranda, Cecilia Siliansky de Andreazzi, Ricardo Moratelli.)

Myotis comprises a diverse group of vespertilionid bats with worldwide distribution. Neotropical Myotis have an accentuated phenotypic conservatism, which makes species delimitation and identification difficult, hindering our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and phylogenetic relationships of taxa. To encourage new systematic reviews of the genus, a catalogue of the primary types and names is presented, current and in synonymy, for Neotropical Myotis . Currently 33 valid species (and three subspecies) are recognized, and their primary types are deposited in 12 scientific collections in the USA (30 types), Brazil (two types), England (two types), and France (one type). The names of 29 Neotropical Myotis species currently in synonymy were found. However, it is possible that some synonyms represent independent evolutionary lineages, considering recent results provided by taxonomic revisions.

Conceição dos Ouros is located in the Mantiqueira mountain range (elevation: 831‒1443 m a.s.l.), State of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. The largest two Atlantic Forest remnants of the Municipality of Conceição dos Ouros total more than 2,000 ha and the main vegetation type is seasonal semi-deciduous forest, isolated by a matrix of agricultural fields and pasture. The Municipality does not have any protected areas and is located in a highly fragmented region, albeit considered of special importance for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates in the State of Minas Gerais. Due to a cooperation with the Municipality of Conceição dos Ouros to carry out a survey of the local biodiversity, in this study we present the results of the survey of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals from the two forest remnants in the region. Sampling was performed from July 2019 to August 2021 and comprised a camera trap survey, active searching including direct (e.g. carcass sightings) and indirect (e.g. footprints and faeces) evidence of species presence and interviews with residents. Twenty-nine native and two non-native species were documented. Ten species are in some category of threat of extinction at regional, national or global levels. This is the first survey of the terrestrial mammal fauna in the area of Conceição dos Ouros and results could be helpful in designing conservation strategies at the local scale., (Ademir Henrique Vilas Boas, Iuri Veríssimo, Roberto Leonan Morim Novaes, Gabriel Cupolillo, Cecilia Siliansky de Andreazzi, Sócrates Fraga Costa-Neto, Ricardo Moratelli.)

The Pedra Branca Forest is located in a highly-urbanised region of the central portion of Rio de Janeiro City, comprises the largest urban forest on the continent and is isolated from other Atlantic Forest remnants. The local flora and fauna are protected by three conservation units (Pedra Branca State Park, Prainha Municipal Natural Park and Guaratiba State Biological Reserve) and one biological station (Fiocruz Atlantic Forest Biological Station-EFMA). Here, we provide an updated list of the bat fauna for the remnant. The results are based on samplings at EFMA and literature data from Pedra Branca State Park and Prainha Natural Park. The three sampling sites combined resulted in 31 species, 23 genera and four families. Phyllostomidae was the richest family with 24 species, followed by Vespertilionidae with five species (3%) and Molossidae and Noctilionidae with one species. The local bat fauna was predominantly composed of species with a broad geographic distribution., (Jonatas Amorim Tavares, Roberto Leonan Morim Novaes, Iuri Veríssimo, Maria Alice do Amaral Kuzel, Sócrates Fraga da Costa-Neto, Caroline Lacorte Rangel, Mylena Borges, Helena Medrado, Bruno Alves, Renan de França Souza, Ana Carolina Duarte Pinto Menezes, Luis Fernando Menezes-Júnior, Daniela Dias, Cecilia Siliansky de Andreazzi, Rosana Gentile, Ricardo Moratelli.)

Bats are infected with several trypanosomatid species; however, assessing the diversity of this interaction remains challenging since there are species apparently unable to grow in conventional culture media. Accordingly, the ecology and biology of the Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Trypanosoma spp. Neobats are unknown. Therefore, we performed the molecular characterization targeting the 18S small subunit rDNA from the blood clot of 280 bats of three Brazilian regions (Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro and Acre states), bypassing the selective pressure of hemoculture. From 68 (24%) positive blood clot samples, we obtained 49 satisfactory sequences. Of these successfully sequenced results, T. spp. Neobats (1, 3 and 4) represented 67%, with the most abundant T . sp. Neobat 4 (53%). Our results show: (1) high abundance and wide geographic range of T. sp. Neobat 4, restricted to Carollia bats; (2) high infection rate of T . sp. Neobat 4 in Carollia perspicillata populations (mean 26%); (3) infection with the monoxenous Crithidia mellificae ; and (4) a new MOTU ( T . sp. Neobat 5) in Artibeus cinereus , positioning in the Trypanosoma wauwau clade. These data corroborate the importance of bats as hosts of many Trypanosoma species and C. mellificae . They also show that the diversity of the T. wauwau clade is underestimated and warn about the high magnitude of trypanosomes we overpass with the hemoculture. Our findings combined with previous data show that T. spp. Neobats include host-specific and host-generalist species, probably playing different ecological roles: T . sp. Neobat 1 shows broad host range; T . spp. Neobat 3 and 4 are restricted to Artibeus and Carollia , respectively. Finally, T . Neobat 4 seems to be a well-succeeded parasite, especially within C. perspicillata metapopulations across a wide geographical distribution. This work is a step forward to understand the biology and life history of T. spp. Neobats., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Wild animals infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis represent important indicators of this fungal agent presence in the environment. The detection of this pathogen in road-killed wild animals has shown to be a key strategy for eco-epidemiological surveillance of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), helping to map hot spots for human infection. Molecular detection of P. brasiliensis in wild animals from PCM outbreak areas has not been performed so far. The authors investigated the presence of P. brasiliensis through nested-PCR in tissue samples obtained from road-killed animals collected nearby a human PCM outbreak spot, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil and border areas. Eighteen species of mammals were analyzed: Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo, n = 6), Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox, n = 4), Coendou spinosus (hairy dwarf porcupine, n = 2), Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical river otter, n = 1), Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon, n = 1), Galactis cuja (lesser grison, n = 1), Tamandua tetradactyla (collared anteater, n = 1), Cuniculus paca (paca, n = 1), and Bradypus variegatus (brown-throated three-toed sloth, n = 1). Specific P. brasiliensis sequences were detected in the liver, spleen, and lymph node samples from 4/6 (66.7%) D. novemcinctus, reinforcing the importance of these animals on Paracoccidioides ecology. Moreover, lymph nodes samples from two C. thous, as well as lung samples from the C. paca were also positive. A literature review of Paracoccidioides spp. in vertebrates in Brazil indicates C. thous and C. paca as new hosts for the fungal pathogen P. brasiliensis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Crithidia mellificae, a monoxenous trypanosomatid considered restricted to insects, was recently reported to infect a bat. Herein, C. mellificae has been demonstrated to have a wider range of vertebrate hosts and distribution in Brazilian biomes than once thought. Parasites isolated from haemocultures were characterized using V7V8 SSU rDNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes. Coatis ( Nasua nasua ) in the Cerrado; marmosets ( Callithrix sp.) and bats ( Carollia perspicillata , Myotis lavali, M. izecksohni , Artibeus lituratus ) in the Atlantic Forest; crab-eating foxes ( Cerdocyon thous ) and ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ) in the Pantanal biomes were infected by trypanosomatids that displayed choanomastigote forms in haemoculture in Giemsa-stained slide smears. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic inference confirmed the infection of C. mellificae in these animals. Moreover, slight differences in C. mellificae sequences were observed. Crithidia mellificae growth curves were counted at 27°C, 36°C and 37°C, and the morphotypes were able to grow and survive for up to 16 days. Serological titers for C. mellificae were observed in nonhuman primates, demonstrating that this parasite is able to induce a humoral immune response in an infected mammal. These results showed that host specificity in trypanosomatids is complex and far from understood., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.)

Myotis nesopolus currently comprises two subspecies. The nominate subspecies ( M. n. nesopolus ) occurs on the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, whereas M. n. larensis is known from mainland South America in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Our Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome-b gene sequences recovered M. nesopolus as a paraphyletic group, with M. n. nesopolus and M. n. larensis as non-sister lineages. The haplotype network indicates that these two subspecies do not share any haplotypes and are in different evolutionary trajectories. Additionally, these two subspecies can be distinguished on the basis of qualitative and quantitative morphological traits. This pattern supports the recognition of M. nesopolus and M. larensis as full species. Our results also reveal that the assemblage of Caribbean Myotis do not form a monophyletic group. Caribbean species are phylogenetically close to mainland species from northern South America and Central America, suggesting that colonization of Caribbean islands happened multiple times.

The Bartonella species are zoonotic agents that infect mammals and are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Approximately 18 distinct genotypes cause diseases in humans, and may be spread by both domestic and wild animals. In Brazil, Bartonella genotypes have been identified in several species of wild mammals, and in the present study, we analyzed samples from non-human primates (marmosets), marsupials, rodents, and bats, and compared them with the genotypes described in mammals from Brazil, to examine the distribution of Bartonella genotypes in two impacted areas of Rio de Janeiro state, in southeastern Brazil. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to detect the Bartonella DNA using partial sequences of the gltA, ftsZ , and groEL genes. We generated Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood trees to characterize the positive PCR samples and infer the phylogenetic relationships of the genotypes. A total of 276 animals were captured, including 110 bats, 91 rodents, 38 marsupials, and 37 marmosets. The DNA of Bartonella was amplified from tissue samples collected from 12 (4.34%) of the animals, including eight rodents - Akodon cursor (5/44) and Nectomys squamipes (3/27) - and four bats, Artibeus lituratus (3/58) and Carollia perspicillata (1/15). We identified Bartonella genotypes closely related to those described in previous studies, as well as new genotypes in both the rodent and the bat samples. Considering the high diversity of the Bartonella genotypes and hosts identified in the present study, further research is needed to better understand the relationships between the different Bartonella genotypes and their vectors and host species. The presence of Bartonella in the wild rodents and bats from the study area indicates that the local human populations may be at risk of infection by Bartonella due to the spillover of these strains from the wild environment to domestic and peri-domestic environments., Competing Interests: Authors have seen and approved this version of the manuscript and have no conflict of interest or disclosures concerning this paper. On behalf of the co-authors, I declare that it is not currently submitted for publication elsewhere., (© 2020 Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.)

Biological collections are central in understanding and preserving life on Earth. In Brazil, the most representative collections are kept by natural history museums, whose primary focus is in invertebrates, vertebrates and vascular plants. Only a few institutions keep repositories in different kingdoms. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), established in 1900, is a strategic public health institution of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. As such, Fiocruz is responsible for a wide range of activities, from basic research to the development and production of vaccines, drugs, reagents and diagnostic kits. Its biological collections were soon established in the expeditions made by naturalists and physicians seeking integrated knowledge of the fauna, flora and tropical diseases. Since then, they have been part of the institutional policy. In a few decades, those collections were already in the forefront of basic and applied research on tropical parasitic and infectious diseases. Currently, they comprise thirty-three repositories representing part of the Brazilian diversity of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, molluscs and plants of medical and environmental importance. Different methods of long-term preservation are applied for the conservation of this wide range of organisms represented by about 6 million specimens. Herein, we describe this range of collections and discuss their complementary role as repositories of groups not represented in other biological collections in Brazil. These valuable biological materials have been used in public health and medical research, as well as for technological development and innovation in Brazil. Parallel to this specific usage, Fiocruz biological collections have played and continue to play a unique and important role in understanding and conserving part of Brazil's biodiversity that is currently under-represented in other biological and natural history collections in Brazil and South America., (Manuela da Silva, Marcia Chame, Ricardo Moratelli.)

We studied infection by Trypanosomatidae in bats captured in two areas with different degradation levels in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state: Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) and Estação Fiocruz Mata Atlântica (EFMA). Furthermore, we evaluated whether the diversity of trypanosomatids changes according to bat diversity and the different levels of preservation in the region. The results showed no influence of the level of preservation on bat species richness (15 and 14 species, respectively), with similar chiropterofauna and higher abundance of two common fruit-eating bat species in the tropics: Carollia perspicillata and Artibeus lituratus. Of the 181 bat specimens analyzed by LIT/Schneider hemoculture, we detected 24 infected individuals (13%), including one positive Sturnira lilium individual that was also positive by fresh blood examination. Molecular characterization using nested PCR targeting the 18 SSU rRNA-encoding gene fragment showed similar trypanosomatid infection rates in bats from the two areas: 15% in REGUA and 11% in EFMA (p = 0.46). Trypanosoma dionisii was the most frequently detected parasite (54%), followed by T. cruzi DTUs TcI and TcIV and Trypanosoma sp., in Neotropical phyllostomid bats (RNMO63 and RNMO56); mixed infections by T. dionisii/T. cruzi TcIII and T. dionisii/T. cruzi TcI were also observed. The T. cruzi DTUs TcI and TcIV are the genotypes currently involved in cases of acute Chagas disease in Brazil, and T. dionisii was recently found in the heart tissue of an infected child. Surprisingly, we also describe for the first time Crithidia mellificae, a putative monoxenous parasite from insects, infecting a vertebrate host in the Americas. Bats from the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state harbor a great diversity of trypanosomatids, maintaining trypanosomatid diversity in this sylvatic environment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common species of anteater. Even though much is known about its ecology, behavior, and parasites, there is very limited information about bone diseases in Tamandua and other anteaters. Here, we examined postcranial skeletons of 64 T. tetradactyla museum specimens covering most of the material available in Brazilian collections., Results: The following bone diseases were identified for the first time in Tamandua and other extant and fossil vermilinguans: osteophytes, osteitis, osteoarthritis, periostitis, exostoses, enthesopathies, and a severe chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis associated with fistulae, cloacae (pus), bone loss, and neoformation processes. Musculoskeletal reconstruction revealed that an old specimen was restricted to terrestrial locomotion due to osteopathological processes that impaired its climbing., Conclusions: New osteopathological informations are presented for T. tetradactyla, favoring a better understanding of the expression of some bone diseases in wild animals. In addition, the diagnosis of these bone diseases in living anteaters provides useful information for studies on animal health and welfare, as well as contributing to the more effective recognition of paleodiseases in fossil xenarthrans.

Bats play key ecological roles, also hosting many zoonotic pathogens. Neotropical bat microbiota is still poorly known. We speculate that their dietary habits strongly influence their microbiota richness and antibiotic-resistance patterns, which represent growing and serious public health and environmental issue. Here we describe the aerobic microbiota richness of bats from an Atlantic Forest remnant in Southeastern Brazil, and the antibiotic-resistance patterns of bacteria of clinical importance. Oral and rectal cavities of 113 bats from Carlos Botelho State Park were swabbed. Samples were plated on 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar and identified by the MALDI-TOF technique. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using Kirby-Bauer's antibiotic disc diffusion technique.We identified 596 isolates at the genus level and tentatively to the species level. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in all the dietary guilds, representing 87% of the total identified samples. The most common bacteria within bat individuals were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca and Serratia marcescens, and within bat species were Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. Frugivores presented the most diverse microbiota. In general, the antibiogram results indicated a low occurrence of resistance on eigth potentially pathogenic bacteria species. The resistance to antibiotics found on our samples was related mostly to the intrinsic resistance of the tested species.The low occurrence of resistant bacteria in our samples could be related to the well preserved environment where bats were caught. Once the major causes of resistance-acquiring are related to anthropic activites, the controlled access of tourists on certain regions of the Park seems to be effectively protecting the environment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The role of bats as reservoirs of zoonotic agents, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Bartonella and Coxiella, has been discussed around the world. Recent studies have identified bats as potential hosts of species from the proteobacteria phylum. In Brazil, however, the role of bats in the natural cycle of these agents is poorly investigated and generally neglected. In order to analyze the participation of bats in the epidemiology of diseases caused by Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study in three biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest., Results: Tissues of 119 bats captured in preserved areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2015 were submitted to molecular analysis using specific primers. Bartonella spp. was detected in 22 spleen samples (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.9-26.6), whose phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of at least two independent clusters, suggesting that these may be new unique genotypes of Bartonella species. In addition, four samples (3.4%, 95% CI: 0.9-8.3) were positive for the htpAB gene of C. burnetii [spleen (2), liver (1) and heart (1)]. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma and Ehrlichia were not identified. This is the first study reporting C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. infections in bats from the Atlantic Forest biome., Conclusions: These findings shed light on potential host range for these bacteria, which are characterized as important zoonotic pathogens.

Myotis aelleni Baud, 1979 was described based on a large series from Chubut, Argentina, and is known only from the type locality and Río Negro, also in Argentina. According to the original description, M. aelleni is closest morphologically to M. chiloensis (Waterhouse, 1840), but can be distinguished based on the tricolored dorsal hairs and skull size and shape. The taxonomic status of M. aelleni has been questioned but the species is still treated as valid. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of the type series of M. aelleni, and series of M. chiloensis, including the neotype, we recognize M. aelleni as a junior synonym of M. chiloensis. M. aelleni and M. chiloensis have bicolor dorsal hairs and cannot be distinguished on the basis of the skull size and shape. After synonymy, M. chiloensis occur from Central Chile and western Argentina to central Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Twenty-one species of Myotis occur in South America, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Lasiurus ebenus was known only from the holotype, which was collected in 1991, in an Atlantic Forest remnant of Ilha do Cardoso State Park, southeastern Brazil. The species was described based on qualitative and quantitative morphological features. Since its original description, based on a single individual, the taxonomic status of Lasiurus ebenus has been questioned. Here we report a second record for the species that comes from Carlos Botelho State Park, São Paulo, ca. 100 km north from the type locality. This new record allowed us to confirm the validity of the species, by presenting additional data that fits in the distinction from sympatric congeners proposed on the original description of L. ebenus.

Baird et al. (2015) split Lasiurus into three distinct genera (Aeorestes, Dasypterus and Lasiurus) based on tree topology and divergence times for the tribe Lasiurini. This arrangement has not been widely adopted by the scientific community and was criticized by Ziegler et al. (2016). More recently, Baird et al. (2017) reinforced the taxonomic arrangement of Lasiurini comprised by three genera. Baird et al. (2015, 2017) provided the most comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of Lasiurus and offer important insights on the phylogeny and alpha-taxonomy of the group. However, we disagree with the taxonomic arrangement proposed at the genus level and explain our point below.

The aim of this study was to reevaluate the ecology of an area in the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, where Chagas disease (CD) has been found to occur. In a previous study, immediately after the occurrence of a CD case, we did not observe any sylvatic small mammals or dogs with Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi infections, but Triatoma vitticeps presented high T. c. cruzi infection rates. In this study, we investigated bats together with non-volant mammals, dogs, and triatomines to explore other possible T. c. cruzi reservoirs/hosts in the area. Seventy-three non-volant mammals and 186 bats were captured at three sites within the Guarapari municipality, Espírito Santo state. Rio da Prata and Amarelos sites exhibited greater richness in terms of non-volant mammals and bats species, respectively. The marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus, the rodent Trinomys paratus, and the bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most frequently captured species. As determined by positive hemocultures, only two non-volant mammals were found to be infected by Trypanosoma species: Monodelphis americana, which was infected by T. cascavelli, T. dionisii and Trypanosoma sp., and Callithrix geoffroyi, which was infected by T. minasense. Bats presented T. c. cruzi TcI and TcIII/V, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. rangeli B and D, and Trypanosoma sp. infections. Seven dogs were infected with T. cruzi based only on serological exams. The triatomines T. vitticeps and Panstrongylus geniculatus were found to be infected by trypanosomes via microscopy. According to molecular characterization, T. vitticeps specimens were infected with T. c. cruzi TcI, TcII, TcIII/V, and TcIV, T. c. marinkellei and T. dionisii. We observed high trypanosome diversity in a small and fragmented region of the Atlantic Forest. This diversity was primarily maintained by bats and T. vitticeps. Our findings show that the host specificity of the Trypanosoma genus should be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, our data show that CD cases can occur without an enzootic cycle near residential areas.

Background: Bats are a highly successful, globally dispersed order of mammals that occupy a wide array of ecological niches. They are also intensely parasitized and implicated in multiple viral, bacterial and parasitic zoonoses. Trypanosomes are thought to be especially abundant and diverse in bats. In this study, we used 18S ribosomal RNA metabarcoding to probe bat trypanosome diversity in unprecedented detail., Methodology/principal Findings: Total DNA was extracted from the blood of 90 bat individuals (17 species) captured along Atlantic Forest fragments of Espírito Santo state, southeast Brazil. 18S ribosomal RNA was amplified by standard and/or nested PCR, then deep sequenced to recover and identify Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) for phylogenetic analysis. Blood samples from 34 bat individuals (13 species) tested positive for infection by 18S rRNA amplification. Amplicon sequences clustered to 14 OTUs, of which five were identified as Trypanosoma cruzi I, T. cruzi III/V, Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei, Trypanosoma rangeli, and Trypanosoma dionisii, and seven were identified as novel genotypes monophyletic to basal T. cruzi clade types of the New World. Another OTU was identified as a trypanosome like those found in reptiles. Surprisingly, the remaining OTU was identified as Bodo saltans-closest non-parasitic relative of the trypanosomatid order. While three blood samples featured just one OTU (T. dionisii), all others resolved as mixed infections of up to eight OTUs., Conclusions/significance: This study demonstrates the utility of next-generation barcoding methods to screen parasite diversity in mammalian reservoir hosts. We exposed high rates of local bat parasitism by multiple trypanosome species, some known to cause fatal human disease, others non-pathogenic, novel or yet little understood. Our results highlight bats as a long-standing nexus among host-parasite interactions of multiple niches, sustained in part by opportunistic and incidental infections of consequence to evolutionary theory as much as to public health.

Background: Myotis occurs from tropical to temperate regions throughout the globe, and it is the largest bat genus with more than 100 species. Most species are insect-eaters, but a few also feed on other invertebrates and fishes; there is no confirmed evidence of a plant item in their diet., New Information: During fieldwork in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, small seeds were retrieved from the feces of one adult female of the Black Myotis, Myotis nigricans-one of the most common Neotropical bats. In a germination experiment, 40% of those seeds grew into seedlings. Our findings are the first evidence of fruit consumption for any Myotis species. We reject a possible contamination because the cotton bag was never used before for bats. This study is the first evidence of frugivory in the genus Myotis.

Background: Myotis midastactus Moratelli and Wilson, 2014 (Vespertilionidae, Myotinae) was described from the Myotis simus Thomas, 1901 complex based on collections from the Bolivian Savannah., New Information: Four vouchers previously assigned to M. simus from the Alto Chaco in Paraguay (West of the Paraguay River) are reassigned here to M. midastactus. These specimens extend the geographic distribution of M. midastactus 1200 km southward, and constitute the first evidence of the species in the country. Based on other material from the Brazilian Pantanal and Cerrado, Central Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina, we also discuss the identity of simus-like populations south of the Amazon Basin. The status of these populations is still unclear, but the little evidence we have at hand indicates that these populations may represent another taxon-M. guaycuru Proença, 1943; whereas M. simus seems to be restricted to the Amazon basin. This hypothesis is still very speculative and requires further investigation. With the assignment of material from Alto Chaco to M. midastactus, seven species of Myotis are confirmed for Paraguay: M. albescens, M. lavali, M. levis, M. midastactus, M. nigricans, M. riparius, and M. ruber.

We describe Lonchophyllainexpectata sp. n. from the Caatinga of Brazil. This new species can be distinguished from all known species of Lonchophylla that occur in Brazil by dental traits, cranial size, and fur colour. Specimens of Lonchophyllainexpectata have been misidentified as Lonchophyllamordax; but Lonchophyllainexpectata is a pale-venter species, similar in external appearance to Lonchophylladekeyseri. We have found Lonchophyllainexpectata in the Caatinga of North-eastern Brazil; Lonchophyllamordax along the eastern border of the Caatinga and in the Atlantic Forest-Caatinga ecotone in North-eastern Brazil; and Lonchophylladekeyseri in the Cerrado of Mid-western Brazil, in the Brazilian Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone, and as far west as the Cerrado of Bolivia.

Background: Myotis albescens occurs from Mexico southward to Uruguay and Argentina. The species is known for all South American countries except French Guiana and Chile., New Information: Based on one specimen recently collected in French Guiana we fill part of the gap in the distribution of the species in South America. Myotis albescens occurs in the Guiana Shield with other four congeners, from which it can be distinguished by external and skull traits. As an aid to future identifications, we provide a key to this assemblage.

An increasingly asked question is 'can we confidently link bats with emerging viruses?'. No, or not yet, is the qualified answer based on the evidence available. Although more than 200 viruses - some of them deadly zoonotic viruses - have been isolated from or otherwise detected in bats, the supposed connections between bats, bat viruses and human diseases have been raised more on speculation than on evidence supporting their direct or indirect roles in the epidemiology of diseases (except for rabies). However, we are convinced that the evidence points in that direction and that at some point it will be proved that bats are competent hosts for at least a few zoonotic viruses. In this review, we cover aspects of bat biology, ecology and evolution that might be relevant in medical investigations and we provide a historical synthesis of some disease outbreaks causally linked to bats. We provide evolutionary-based hypotheses to tentatively explain the viral transmission route through mammalian intermediate hosts and to explain the geographic concentration of most outbreaks, but both are no more than speculations that still require formal assessment.

We examined Brazilian species of the nectar-feeding bats genus Lonchophylla (Phyllostomidae, Lonchophyllinae) to clarify the identity of Lonchophylla bokermanni and to determine the distribution of this and other species of Lonchophylla in eastern Brazil. As a result, we have found sufficient differences between Cerrado populations (including the type locality of L. bokermanni) and populations inhabiting the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil,which warrant the treatment of the Atlantic Forest populations as a separate and new species. We describe this new species here as Lonchophylla peracchii, sp. nov. The new species appears to be restricted to the Atlantic Forest, whereas L. bokermanni is found only in Cerrado habitats.

We developed a procedure to obtain fibroblasts from bat skin. A small fragment of the ear is removed under ether anesthesia. This material is then cut up into small pieces and cultured in standard cell culture media. Very good quality chromosome preparations for cytogenetic studies are obtained in about three weeks. Secondary cultures can be used for other biological studies. This procedure does not require sacrificing the animals.