Olfactory cues of mate quality in mammals: inflammatory response is higher in males of long-nosed bats with odorous dorsal patch

Abstract Bats use olfactory signals to provide information of species and individual identity quality. Males two long-nosed bats, Leptonycteris curasoae L. yerbabuenae , display an odoriferous dorsal patch during the mating season that is involved in mate choice. The documented serve as indicator male quality; for instance, males with present larger testes lower ectoparasite loads. We evaluated role inflammatory response 6 12 h after being injected phytohemagglutinin (PHA). found both was not different between reproductively active bats or without PHA injection, but higher injection. Our study adds evidence exhibited by indicates their immune quality females. Further work including other branches system potential microbiota strength warranted.