Common Vampire: How Does This Blood-Feeding Mammal Sustain Its Metabolism During a Race?

According to the result of the study, their metabolism does not distinguish between essential and non-essential amino acids.

The common vampire, the only mammal to feed on blood

Hematophagous bat species, which feed on blood, are the only mammals with this type of diet. Living in Central and South America, it mainly attacks sleeping livestock such as horses. They receive a particularly bad reputation in the eyes of the locals.

The common vampire, or Desmodus rotundusa species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, is part of this category. Recently, some members of the species were the subject of a rather original scientific experiment: they had to run on a treadmill to reveal how their bodies benefit from the blood consumed.

Amino acids, bats' best friends

The results show that their bodies are able to metabolize the amino acids contained in the blood that these animals consume, just a few minutes after ingesting their meal. Other vertebrate animals instead use carbohydrates and lipids to produce their energy.

Indeed, the metabolism of other mammals will first be fueled by lipids in the event of low-intensity exercise, then by carbohydrates. “These fuel sources are oxidized to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that provides energy to living cells,” relays Science Alert.

No distinction between the two types of amino acids

However, the whole purpose of this study, carried out by physiologists Giulia Rossi of the University of Toronto and Kenneth Welch of McMaster University in Canada, was to reveal how the bat generated this molecule so necessary. Since they are relatively good at running on the ground, treadmills helped scientists measure their oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production to measure their metabolism.

The physiologists made three groups of bats. Two were fed blood containing essential and non-essential amino acids. According to the results, these bats showed no distinction, so their bodies make the best use of the resources provided.

“Our results suggest that a major increase in flux through these and other related metabolic pathways evolved in vampire bats as an adaptation to make efficient use of these abundantly ingested fuels (i.e. (say blood proteins and amino acids)” conclude the researchers in their study.