Vampire bat reproductive control by a naturally occurring phytooestrogen.
Rabies transmission by wild animals has not being controlled satisfactorily. One major rabies vector to humans and cattle is the hematophagous vampire bat Desmodus rotundus whose distribution is still increasing in the Americas. Of all of the strategies currently in place to control this vector, none of them are really specific and some have ecological impacts. In the present study we used a naturally occurring phytoestrogen on a small vampire bat colony. After collection, bats were fed bovine blood containing 200 microg coumestrol for a 30-day period. After treatment, gonads were excised and processed for histological evaluation. Data indicate that coumestrol adversely affects gonad histology and has a possible impact on the fertility of both male and female vampire bats.
Serrano
Hector
H
Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa, Ave. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Mexico City 09340, DF, Mexico. hser@xanum.uam.mx
Pérez-Rivero
Juan-José
JJ
Aguilar-Setién
Alvaro
A
de-Paz
Octavio
O
Villa-Godoy
Alejandro
A
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000196:embryology*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003375:Coumestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary
D003375:Coumestrol