Bats also know how to keep social distance

As the pathogen spreads through the population, changes in social behavior may affect

to the spread of the disease. Transmission rates can increase when parasites change their host's behavior, or decrease when healthy people avoid sick people.

Researchers conducted an experiment to studyhow the behavior of animals changes during illness. Scientists captured 31 adult female bats, and then simulated the disease within the group. To do this, the researchers injected randomized half of the bats with an immunity-inducing substance, lipopolysaccharide, while the control group received saline injections.

After that, the researchers glued to thethe subjects of the proximity sensors and released them back. During the experiment, the scientists observed 16 "sick" bats and 15 bats from the control group in vivo.

Compared to control bats,“sick” people spent less time with others and were less socially connected to healthy individuals. During the treatment period, the “sick” bats spent 25 minutes less communicating with each partner. These differences decreased after the animals recovered. 

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