Publications by authors named "Vendula Kalocsanyiova"
Article Synopsis
- Heavy metals, particularly mercury, are toxic to many organisms, and while various species are monitored for environmental mercury levels, bats have been largely overlooked.
- This study focused on measuring total mercury in the fur, flight membrane, and muscles of greater mouse-eared bats from two locations in the Czech Republic and found varying mercury levels, with some fur samples exceeding toxicity limits.
- Results revealed significant differences in mercury concentration between the two study sites and highlighted the influence of age on mercury levels in all examined tissues, demonstrating that bat fur can be an effective indicator for assessing environmental mercury pollution.
Co-existence of bats with a wide range of infectious agents relates to their co-evolutionary history and specific physiology. Here, we examined blood samples collected during hibernation and the post-hibernation period to assess the influence of trypanosomes and babesias on the health status of 50 Noctule bats () using nested PCR. The impact of blood parasites on health was assessed by analysis of haematology and blood chemistry parameters in 21 bats.
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