Prey preference of the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus, Chiroptera) using molecular analysis

Abstract

Morphological identification of prey fragments in vampire bat feces is impossible because of an exclusively blood-based diet. Therefore, studies of their foraging ecology require innovative approaches. We investigated the diet of Desmodus rotundus using a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) molecular method by amplifying the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene (380 bp) from DNA fecal samples collected from captive bats fed with blood from chickens, cattle, pigs, dogs, and humans-the 5 most frequently attacked prey species in rural areas of the Brazilian Amazonia. The prey preference of the vampire bat was investigated in 18 riverine villages, where the availability of domestic animals to bats was quantified. Prey DNA amplified from fecal samples exhibited no visible signals of vampire bat DNA. A PCR-RFLP flowchart and a combination of 2 DNA restriction enzymes allowed the direct identification of prey to species level. The enzymes' restriction profile did not overlap with those of vampire bats or wild mammal and avian species. Chickens were the most attacked prey species (61.4% of the identifications, n = 27), but pigs were highly preferred in relation to prey availability. This suggests a preference for mammalian blood in D. rotundus diet, with chickens exploited as a secondary food source. No wild vertebrate species was identified in the fecal samples, indicating that vampire bats are selectively feeding on the blood of domesticated animals, probably because they are more predictable and easily accessed resources.

Viral Diversity, Prey Preference, and Bartonella Prevalence in Desmodus rotundus in Guatemala

“…These results are consistent with previous evidence based on stable isotope analyses, which also demonstrated preferential feeding by Desmodus rotundus on livestock over native mammals (Voigt and Kelm 2006). However, other recent studies have shown variations in D. rotundus feeding behavior based on different prey availability, which included preferential feeding on chickens and pigs in the absence of high density cattle ranching (Bobrowiec et al 2015). We found no evidence of human blood meals from the bats that we sampled.…”

Colour vision variation in leaf‐nosed bats (Phyllostomidae): Links to cave roosting and dietary specialization

“…All three species within Desmodontinae have a highly specialized diet -they feed exclusively on blood from mammals and birds (Greenhall, Joermann, Schmidt, & Seidel, 1983;Greenhall & Schutt, 1996;Ito, Bernard, & Torres, 2016). Desmodus rotundus shows a preference for mammalian prey (Bobrowiec, Lemes, & Gribel, 2015;Voigt & Kelm, 2006), while Diphylla ecaudata and Diaemus youngi preferentially prey on birds (Costa, Oliveira, Fernandes, & Esberard, 2008;Greenhall, Schmidt, & Joermann, 1984). Our results suggest OPN1SW pseudogenization and monochromacy occurred either: 1) in the last common ancestor of all vampire bats prior to their divergence ca.…”

Foraging choices of vampire bats in diverse landscapes: potential implications for land‐use change and disease transmission

“…We captured vampire bats from nine colonies in Peru between April 2008 and March 2013 in the departments of Lima (hereafter coast, N = 3 colonies), Apur ımac and Cajamarca (hereafter Andes, N = 3 colonies), and Madre de Dios and Amazonas (hereafter Amazon, N = 3 colonies; Table 1). Sites were daytime roost structures (caves, mines, tunnels and hollow trees) to avoid biasing dietary inferences by sampling bats near potential prey while foraging (Bobrowiec, Lemes & Gribel 2015). Bats were captured using mist nets and/or a harp trap placed outside of each roost between 18:00 h and 06:00 h. Age was classified as juvenile or adult based on fusion of the phalangeal epiphyses (Anthony 1988).…”

“…Past studies have used stable isotope analysis and molecular typing of DNA in vampire bat faeces to demonstrate reliance on livestock when they are locally abundant (Voigt & Kelm 2006;Bobrowiec, Lemes & Gribel 2015). Feeding habits in regions without livestock are poorly characterized (Catenazzi & Donnelly 2008), but critically, it is these areas where bat bites on humans are common, representing a serious public health risk (Schneider et al 2009;Stoner-Duncan, Streicker & Tedeschi 2014).…”

“…Vampire bats have been hypothesized to repeatedly forage on the same individuals, suggesting the capacity for specialization (Greenhall 1988). However, most previous studies were conducted where domestic prey are plentiful so tendencies towards specialization in regions with diverse wildlife prey and few livestock are unknown (Voigt & Kelm 2006;Bobrowiec, Lemes & Gribel 2015). If specialization occurs, then only certain individuals may be responsible for human or livestock rabies and control programmes might target these individuals.…”