DNA DAMAGE IN PHYLLOSTOMIDAE BATS FROM A MINING AREA IN CENTRALCERRADO, BRAZIL
Abstract
The micronucleus (MN) test is widely used for detecting DNA damage resulting from pollutant exposure. However, studies
involving wild mammals, particularly bats, one of the most diverse groups on the planet, are still scarce. In this context, the use
of bioindicator organisms, such as bats, is essential for assessing environmental health. This study aimed to analyze the
frequency of MN in peripheral blood samples from bats inhabiting an area impacted by ferronickel mining in Central Cerrado,
Brazil. Three species were investigated: Artibeus lituratus (n = 5), Platyrrhinus lineatus (n = 6), and Lophostoma silvicola (n
= 6). A total of 1000 cells were quantified for each animal. Overall, the mean MN frequency was 6.40 ± 2.70 for A. lituratus,
5.17 ± 2.64 for P. lineatus, and 9.50 ± 4.42 for L. silvicola, with no statistically significant differences among the species (F =
2.23; p = 0.143). Despite this result, L. silvicola, an insectivorous specimen, exhibited a slightly higher mean than the
frugivorous species analyzed. The results reinforce the importance of the MN test as a valuable tool for ecotoxicological
assessment and environmental health monitoring in areas subjected to anthropogenic activities, providing baseline data for the
species investigated.
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