English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background  Bats belong to one of the most species-rich orders within the Mammalia. They show a worldwide distribution, a high degree of ecological diversification as well as a high diversity of associated parasites and pathogens. Despite their prominent and unique role, the knowledge of their parasite-host-relationships as well as the mechanisms of co-evolutionary processes are, partly due to strict conservation regulations, scarce.    Methods  Juvenile specimens of the greater mouse-eared bat ( Myotis myotis ) from a roosting colony in Gladenbach (Hesse, Germany) were examined for their metazoan endo-and ectoparasite infections and pathogens. Morphometric data were recorded and the individuals were checked for Lyssavirus-specific antigen using a direct immunofluorescence test. For unambiguous species identification, the bats were analysed by cyt-b sequence comparison.    Results   Myotis myotis  were parasitized by the six insect and arachnid ectoparasite species, i.e.  Ixodes ricinus ,  Ischnopsyllus octactenus ,  Ichoronyssus scutatus ,  Steatonyssus periblepharus ,  Spinturnix myoti  and  Cimex dissimilis . Additionally, the nematode  Molinostrongylus alatus  and the cestode  Vampirolepis balsaci  were recorded. Each bat was parasitized by at least four species. The parasites showed partially extreme rates of infection, never recorded before, with more than 1,440 parasites per single host.  Ichoronyssus scutatus ,  Steatonyssus periblepharus ,  Vampirolepis balsaci  and  Molinostrongylus alatus  are recorded for the first time in Germany. A checklist for Europe is presented containing records of 98 parasite species of 14  Myotis  species.    Conclusions  The  Myotis myotis  from Gladenbach (Hesse, Germany) were parasitized by a diverse parasite fauna with high infestation rates. We assume that in juvenile  Myotis  the number of parasites is generally higher than in adults due to only later acquired immune competence and behavioural adaptations. Our results revealed new insights into parasite fauna of  M. myotis  and European bats in general. The finding of endoparasitic cyclophyllidean cestodes that have a two-host lifecycle is, considering the stationary behaviour of the juvenile bats, rather unusual and suggests a non-predatory transmission mechanism (e.g. via autoinfection).  A new insight gained from the collated literature was that the European wide composition of the  Myotis  parasite fauna is dominated by a few specific taxonomic groups in Europe.

Parasite diversity of European Myotis species with special emphasis on Myotis myotis (Microchiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from a typical nursery roost