Analysis of Oral Microbiota in Bats

Bats are the only volant mammals. By occupying a diverse range of ecological niches, they fulfill several essential ecological and economic functions for other groups of animals, plants, and humans alike. However, human activity and the recent global climatic changes are affecting their ecosystems and the eating populations of bat species. On the other hand, bats are reservoirs for various pathogens that affect humans and animals health. For this reason, this investigation focuses on analyzing the oral microbiota of bats to find a relationship between health and the diseases present in these mammals. Besides, when compared to other bodily habitats such as feces or urine, they show similarities and differences between bacterial populations. The study was conducted at three different locations within the canton Urcuquí located in the province of Imbabura. Saliva samples were collected from species of the Phyllostomidae. Finally, comparated my findings with those of studies using saliva to identify bacteria through culture methods and metagenomic tools. A great diversity bacteria was found. Some of them likely are part of healthy oral microbiota of bats. Therefore, I suggested to continue with this type of study to compare other microhabitats of body within different animal species to determine the specificity of bacteria to different bodily cavities. The findings of this type of study could eventually lead to the development of techniques that could prevent bats from transmitting diseases that affect humans and animals, all without altering the population of these flying mammals.

• Váldodahkki: Gómez Acosta, Keila Franchesca (author)
• Materiálatiipa: bachelorThesis
• Giella: eng
• Almmustuhtton: 2020
• Fáttát: Bats; Chiroptera; Oral microbiome; EIDs; Buccal cavity; Microbial population; Microbial communities; Oral cavity; Oral microflora; Bat ecology; Saliva; Murciélagos; Quirópteros; Microbioma oral; Enfermedades infecciosas emergentes; Cavidad bucal; Población microbiana; Comunidades microbianas; Cavidad oral; Microflora oral; Ecología de murciélagos
• Liŋkkat: http://repositorio.yachaytech.edu.ec/handle/123456789/220