Bats are natural reservoirs for many emerging viral diseases. That is why their virome is widely studied. But at the same time, studies of their bacterial gut microbiota are limited, creating a degree of uncertainty about the role of bats in global microbial ecology. In this study, we analyzed gut microbiota of insectivorous Nyctalus noctula and Vespertilio murinus from rehabilitation centers from Rostov-on-Don and Moscow, respectively, and fructivorous Carollia perspicillata from the Moscow Zoo based on V3–V4 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. We revealed that microbial diversity significantly differs between the insectivorous and fructivorous species studied, while the differences between N. noctula and V. murinus are less pronounced, which shows that bats’ gut microbiota is not strictly species-specific and depends more on diet type. In the gut microbiota of synanthropic bats, we observed bacteria that are important for public health and animal welfare such as Bacteroides, Enterobacter, Clostridiaceae, Enterococcus, Ureaplasma, Faecalibacterium, and Helicobacter, as well as some lactic acid bacteria such as Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Weisella. All these bacteria, except for Bacteroides and Weisella, were significantly less abundant in C. perspicillata. This study provides a direct metagenomic comparison of synanthropic insectivorous and zoo fructivorous bats, suggesting future directions for studying these animals’ role in microbial ecology.

Hibernation in mammals entails profound physiological changes that are known to impact host-associated microbial communities, yet its effects on the gut microbiota of synanthropic bats remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial composition and diversity of Nyctalus noctula before and during hibernation using high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Fecal samples from individually banded bats were collected under controlled conditions at a rehabilitation center and analyzed for alpha and beta diversity, as well as differential taxonomic abundance. Hibernation was associated with a marked reduction in microbial diversity according to the Shannon and Simpson indices and a distinct restructuring of gut communities based on the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index. Active bats exhibited a diverse microbiota enriched in facultative anaerobes, including Lactococcus, Enterococcus, and Escherichia–Shigella, while hibernating individuals were dominated by obligate anaerobes, such as Romboutsia and Paeniclostridium. These findings suggest a contraction and functional specialization of the gut microbiota during torpor, potentially reflecting adaptations to fasting, hypothermia, and reduced gut motility. Our results demonstrate that the bat’s gut microbiome is highly responsive to physiological status and underscore the importance of microbial ecology for understanding the host’s energy balance and health under seasonal contexts.

The article proposes a new comprehensive method for assessing the problematic behavior of companion dogs. The aim of the study is to develop a system for the comprehensive analysis of dog behavior using behavioral markers, blank tests, wearable devices and neural networks. The method involves the sequential execution of a series of test samples and blank tests. To test and implement the method in accordance with the "Open Field Test" paradigm, a landfill has been prepared, within which, using two analog video cameras and a wearable accelerometer, the free behavior of a dog at the landfill is recorded as part of a series of experimental tests. The tests included familiarization with the training ground, typical behavior for this dog when interacting with the owner and a stranger, being alone, reactions to loud and quiet sounds, and ECG recording. Putting on an accelerometer and the dog's reaction to a thermal imaging camera were used as separate small tests. The owners separately filled out questionnaire blank tests to analyze the anamnesis of life and behavior of dogs outside the landfill. During the recording, minor behavioral signs of anxiety behavior were analyzed using a developed checklist. The analysis of the obtained data was carried out both manually (blank questionnaires, small behavioral signs) and in semi-automated mode (accelerometry, video recordings and thermography). During the testing process, the advantages and limitations of each of the methods used in the context of the approach were identified, and the effectiveness of its use – in whole or in separate samples – for evaluating the behavior of companion dogs, working and service dogs was shown. The results are applicable for monitoring the behavior of companion dogs, working and service dogs, analyzing possible correlates of anxious and aggressive behavior, in zoopsychologic and ethological studies.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 strains on the gut microbiota of a child with dysbiosis using a human artificial gastrointestinal (GI) tract model. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using an automated, three-reactor artificial gastrointestinal tract system simulating the stomach, duodenum, and large intestine. The microbial community was formed from fecal samples of a child with third-degree dysbiosis. The probiotic product Linex Forte was then administered for 14 days. Microbiota composition was analyzed by real-time PCR, and metabolic activity was assessed by the content of organic acids using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Results: The combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 strains demonstrated a pronounced corrective effect on dysbiotic disorders of the gut microbiota in the artificial GI model. The restoration of lactobacilli populations to 9.0 log CFU/mL and bifidobacteria to physiological norms was recorded. Elimination of opportunistic microorganisms (Citrobacter spp., C. perfringens) was observed by days 7-9. The Bacteroides spp. / F. prausnitzii ratio normalized from 74.1 to the optimal range of 16.9-38.8. Chromatographic analysis revealed specific patterns of metabolic activity of the strains with the restoration of a normal organic acid profile, including the accumulation of lactic and succinic acids. Conclusion: The study confirmed the comprehensive positive impact of the LA-5 and BB-12 strain combination on the key parameters of the gut microbiome in dysbiotic conditions, resulting in a significant prolonged effect. The persistence of the achieved results after the completion of the product's administration indicates the formation of a stable population of probiotic microorganisms, which is of fundamental clinical importance for achieving a long-term therapeutic effect.

Введение. В отечественной зоопсихологии слабо представлены исследования, посвященные проблемному поведению собак-компаньонов, что связано с отсутствием измеримых метрик, позволяющих проанализировать их поведение. С опорой на данные зарубежных исследований применение анализа видеозаписей с использованием систем искусственного интеллекта позволит получить объективные маркеры проблемного поведения у домашних собак. Методы. Пилотная выборка включала 35 собак — 15 кобелей и 20 сук. Обследование включало тест для владельцев CBARQ и пробы: знакомство, взаимодействие с владельцем и незнакомцем, одиночество. Производилась видеозапись двигательной активности, линейных и угловых ускорений с применением портативного акселерометра. Результаты. На основании расчета медианного значения по шкале «Страх и Тревожность» CBARQ собаки были разделены на тревожных и спокойных. Для тревожных собак показаны высокие значения баллов по шкалам «Агрессия» и «Возбудимость». С учетом расстояния между владельцем и собакой из группы тревожных были дополнительно выделены возбудимые собаки. Средняя скорость была выше у возбудимых и тревожных собак; расстояние между точками концентрации активности максимально для возбудимых собак, и минимально — для тревожных. Расчет частоты переключений показал высокие значения для тревожных собак. Обсуждение результатов. Сочетание различных методов позволило проанализировать возможные маркеры поведенческих нарушений с учетом анамнеза жизни, визуального наблюдения (расстояние по кадрам), данных о динамике двигательной активноcти и паттернах поведения. В рамках пилотного исследования получены тестовые этограммы, позволяющие объективно классифицировать тип поведения собаки. Показана возможность добавления в этограмму собак скорости движения и частоты переключений, а также результатов анализа тревожности, агрессивности и возбудимости на основании опроса владельцев. Выявлено, что контакт с человеком является проявляющим фактором, позволяющим с использованием выделенных метрик выявить проблемное поведение собак.