Comparison of Bat Gut Microbiota by Metabarcoding from Specimens Collected in the State of Para, Brazil.

In this study, the intestinal microbiota of bats with different feeding habits was ana-lyzed, aiming to understand the microbial diversity present in both species and the pathogenic potential of these microorganisms. To achieve this, the metabarcoding technique was used to identify the isolated bacteria through analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The data were compared against the Ribosomal Database Project and used for calculating the ACE, Chao, and rarefaction indices. The Kruskal Wallis test was ap-plied to analyze intermediate values of the richness indices (ACE and Chao). Based on the calculations, significant differences in the bats' microbiota were identified, highlighting greater bacterial diversity in the short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) com-pared to the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). Fourteen bacterial genera were identified in the samples, most of which have high potential to cause serious infections. Thus, the study emphasizes the importance of research involving metagenomics and the intestinal microbiota of bats, contributing to the understanding of the ecological role of these animals.