Heliana Dundarova

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research · Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology

While Bulgaria has a rich bat fauna, with large colonies found in caves, mines and other underground roosts, only a small proportion of bat nursery colony roosts have been documented in buildings. During recent field research in the Madzharovo region, however, we discovered the world’s largest nursery colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hi...

The aim of the current study was to detect antibodies against the rabies infection in Bulgarian cave-dwelling bat populations using two types of ELISA protocols: 1) the BioPro Rabies blocking ELISA Ab Kit (BioPro), and 2) the Platelia ® Rabies II Kit ad usum veterinarium (Bio-Rad). A secondary aim of the study was to assess the suitability of these...

Establishing genetic diversity in the population is an essential first step for the sustainable conservation of valuable genetic resources under threat of extinction. Two local goat breeds, Kalofer long-haired (KLH) and Bulgarian screw-horned long-haired (BSHL), were genotyped using a panel of 14 microsatellite markers to determine their population...

We compared four diluents (Andromed, dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, Triladyl) used for semen cryopreservation in wild ungulates from the family Cervidae , i.e. roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), and fallow deer ( Dama dama ). Epididymal sperm samples were collected and analysed immediately using Computer Assiste...

Simple Summary Little is known about bat diversity in mountains above 2000 m a. s. l. in Europe. Here, we report data from a study carried out in the high-alpine karst landscape of Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria at an altitude ranging from 2300 to 2600 m a. s. l. Twenty bat species were detected using three inventory methods. Furthermore, we describe the...

Simple Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is one of the most often used genetic markers in animal population studies. Its relevance as a genetic marker is due to the high mutation rate and variability, the maternal inheritance, and the supposedly nearly neutral mode of evolution. Therefore, mtDNA diversity is typically assumed to reflect demographic...

Phylogeographic Aspects of Bat Lyssaviruses in Europe: A Review. Abstract: During the last few decades, bat lyssaviruses have become the topic of intensive molecular and epidemiological investigations. Since ancient times, rhabdoviruses have caused fatal encephalitis in humans which has led to research into effective strategies for their eradicatio...

Three spinturnicid mite species (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) have been discovered in South Kazakhstan during expedition that took place in July of 2022: Spinturnix emarginata, S. myoti and S. nobleti. Two of them (S. emarginata and S. nobleti) are rare species and have been recorded in Kazakhstan for the first time. Measurements of collected spec...

Evolution of heterothermy in environments with variable temperatures has allowed bats to survive food scarcity during seasonal climatic extremes by using torpor as a hibernation strategy. The controlled reduction of body temperature and metabolism through complex behavioural and physiological adaptations at organismal, organ, cellular and molecular...

During the last few decades bat lyssaviruses have become the topic of intensive molecular and epidemiological investigations. Since ancient times rhabdoviruses have caused fatal encephalitis in humans which has led to research into effective strategies for their eradication. Modelling of potential future cross-species virus transmissions forms a su...

Among many pathogens and pests, honey bee viruses are known as one of the most common cause of diseases in honey bee colonies. In this study, we demonstrate that pollen grains and bee bread are potential sources of viral DNA. We extracted DNA from 3 types of pollen samples: directly provided by beekeepers (n = 12), purchased from trade markets (n =...

The female, male and protonymph of Spinturnix otonycterisi Dundarova & Orlova, sp. nov. (Acari: Spinturnicidae) are described from specimens collected on the enigmatic and rarely captured vespertilionid bat Otonycteris leucophaea (Severcov, 1873) in South Kazakhstan. A key for the identification of the species of Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 found i...

Heterothermy, as a temperature-dependent physiological continuum, may affect host-pathogen interactions through modulation of immune responses. Here, we evaluated proliferation and functional performance of a macrophage cell line established from the greater mouse-eared (Myotis myotis) bat at 8, 17.5, and 37°C to simulate body temperatures during h...

The unique ecological conditions of Bulgarian caves allow them to be used by bats year-round, thereby providing an interesting model for research on host-parasite interactions, including the potential for transmission of different zoonotic pathogens. In this study, 142 cave-dwelling bats of thirteen species were caught in seven Bulgarian caves and...

The study was conducted in Southwestern Kyrgyzstan, which is a transboundary territory. The presence of limestone rocks from the Carboniferous and Devonian age determines the availability of many underground sites. These characteristics make the area an important place for cave-dwelling bat species. Assessment of bat abundance, species richness, an...

Appendix (http://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica. eu/2021/002569_appendix): Table A1. List of caves and bat species studied in 2018–2019; Fig. A1. Ma�ternity colony of Myotis blythii including 10,390 individuals in Duvankhan/Jarganat-Unkur; Fig. A2. Water bodies within the underground sites. (a) Mine of Fersman and (b) Chil-Ustun cave.

Migration activity of bats of Pipistrellus nathusii across the European seas have been reported mainly for the North and Baltic Sea basins. Recently, we have recorded the species for first time within the Bulgarian Black Sea exclusive economic zone (100 km off the country's coast). In addition, six species, i.e. Myotis daubentonii, Nyctalus leisler...

Migration activity of bats of Pipistrellus nathusii across the European seas have been reported mainly for the North and Baltic Sea basins. Recently, we have recorded the species for first time within the Bulgarian Black Sea exclusive economic zone (100 km off the country's coast). In addition, six species, i.e. Myotis daubentonii, Nyctalus leisler...

The study was conducted in Southwestern Kyrgyzstan, which is a transboundary territory. The presence of limestone rocks from the Carboniferous and Devonian ages determines the availability of many underground sites. These characteristics make the area an important place for cave-dwelling bat species. Assessment of bat abundance, species richness, a...

Eight bat species was identified using acoustic survey in the territories of Kamchiya and Shkorpilovska Rivers. The majority of records belong to Myotis cf. daubentonii, Pipistrellus nathusii and Nyctalus noctula. Plecotus austriacus was found only at the mouths of Kamchiya river. Both sites have high conservation priority as the Black Sea wetlands...

Background Palearctic bats host a diversity of lyssaviruses, though not the classical rabies virus (RABV). As surveillance for bat rabies over the Palearctic area covering Central and Eastern Europe and Siberian regions of Russia has been irregular, we lack data on geographic and seasonal patterns of the infection. Results To address this, we unde...

The IPBES Bureau and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, in the context of the extraordinary situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and considering the role that IPBES can play in strengthening the knowledge base on biodiversity, decided that IPBES would organize a “Platform workshop” on biodiversity and pandemics, in accordance with the procedures...

Secondary contacts can play a major role in the evolutionary histories of species. Various taxa diverge in allopatry and later on come into secondary contact during range expansions. When they meet, their interactions and the extent of gene flow depend on the level of their ecological differentiation and the strength of their reproductive isolation...

Bats are presumed primary hosts of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum , including the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi . As such, research on bat trypanosomes has been focused on South America, where Chagas disease is a serious issue. While the majority of European studies have been performed in the United Kingdom, there is virtually no da...

The most northern point of distribution of the European free-tailed bat was recorded in the Razhishkata Cave, Vratchanska Planina Mountains. This is the first record of the species in the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park (protected area) and SCI BG0000166 Vrachanski Balkan (Natura 2000 zone). Further, the cave probably is used as a swarming site by si...

The most northern point of distribution of the European free-tailed bat was recorded in the Razhishkata Cave, Vratchanska Planina Mountains. This is the first record of the species in the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park (protected area) and SCI BG0000166 Vrachanski Balkan (Natura 2000 zone). Further, the cave probably is used as a swarming site by si...

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that is devastating to Nearctic bat populations but tolerated by Palearctic bats. Temperature is a factor known to be important for fungal growth and bat choice of hibernation. Here we investigated the effect of temperature on the pathogenic fungal growth in the wi...

The Myotis mystacinus morphogroup is characterized by high morphological variability across the Palearctic region and four taxa M. brandtii, M. mystacinus, M. davidii and M. alcathoe are recognized on the Balkan Peninsula. Previous studies revealed several subspecies in M. mystacinus (Kuhl, 1817) (nigricans Fatio, 1869, lugubris Fatio, 1869, occide...

The south-western part of Kyrgyzstan is characterized by mountainous terrain and encloses the southern wall of Fergana Valley. These features suggest a variety of underground habitats which play an important role for the vulnerable bat communities. In addition, the life cycle of the cave-dwelling bat species is closely related to the underground si...

Considerate rise of knowledge of bats distribution and their important habitats has been made in the past decade in Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia, therefore bat fauna of Kosovo is now the least known in the region. Last overview (Paunović 2016) has listed only 14 bat species on 10 sites, based on observations preceding 1996. During the last two...

The Western Rhodopes Mountains contain great bat diversity but the number of studies from the region is still low. This article demonstrates the importance of Lednitsata and Forgovskata dupka Caves for the forest-dwelling bat species. Moreover, Myotis alcathoe was established within the Bulgarian part of the mountain for the first time. Lednitsata...

The Myotis mystacinus species group is represented by two morphotypes within the Palearctic region: a larger form described as M. davidii in the East and a smaller form, M. mystacinus, in the West. We used a novel approach and conducted analysis based on both the mitochondrial ND1 and three nuclear introns (ACOX2, ROGDI and ABHD11). Results demonst...

The Armenian whiskered bat, Myotis hajastanicus, is assumed to represent an independent species with an exceptionally small distribution range that is restricted to the basin of Lake Sevan in the Southern Caucasus. The species has not been recorded during the last 25 years and thus was classified as critically endangered by the International Union...

Here, we present a study of the population genetic architecture and microevolution of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) at the environmental margins in the Middle East using mitochondrial sequences and nuclear microsatellites. In contrast to the rather homogenous population structure typical of cave-dwelling bats in climax tropical eco...