Bifidobacteria represent one of the main bacterial groups occurring in the gut of primates and other
animals and are well known for their positive role on host health. Moreover, bifidobacteriaceae
are used in coevolution studies since they are maintained within host lineages across hundreds of
thousands of host generations. Therefore, the discovery of bifidobacterial diversity in the
gastrointestinal tract together with the isolation and characterization of novel bacterial taxa in
different hosts is essential. Until now no evidence has been reported about the occurrence of
bifidobacteria in bats which are a crucial part of the ecosystem and are ecologically and
economically advantageous to humans especially frugivorous ones. This study aimed at the
investigation of bifidobacteria in bats belonging to Rousettus aegyptiacus species which were born
in Egypt and hosted in Natura Viva Garda Zoological Park (Bussolengo, Verona, Italy). Faecal
samples were serially diluted and plated on selective medium MRS supplemented with 0.05 %
(w/v) cysteine, 100 mg/l norfloxacin, 2 mg/l cycloheximide, 50 mg/l mupirocin and 1 ml/l acetic
acid. Strains were typed by BOX-PCR. Representative isolates of each cluster were identified
sequencing 16S rRNA gene and studied for phylogenetical relationship with other
Bifidobacteriaceae. Similarities among profiles were calculated by clustering the Pearson\u201fs
correlation matrix using UPGMA algorithm. A total of 13 bifidobacteria were isolated and two of
them belonged to new bifidobacterial species according to 16S rRNA gene analysis. The majority
of strains revealed a phylogenetic relationship with bifidobacteria isolated from non-human
primates. This evolutive link of bifidobacterial microbiotas between bats and non-human primates
will be further investigated studying bifidobacteria characterizing Rousettus aegyptiacus bats from
Egypt in order to offer new insights about bats origin