{ "abstract": "Arthropod molting hormones, the so-called ecdysteroids were experimentally shown to have anabolic effects in higher vertebrates, promoting energy supply, protein synthesis, and tissue growth. Insectivorous songbirds (Aves: Passeriformes) and bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) were demonstrated to have naturally acquired ecdysteroids in their blood. However, it is not known if partly insectivorous or artificially insect-fed vertebrates would also have ecdysteroids in their circulation. The aim of this screening study was to clarify this, by collecting blood samples of mammals, birds and reptiles that are wild-living or receive insect diet at zoological gardens, followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry analyses. The zoo animal samples originated from one reptilian species (n = 3), as well as one species of insectivorous mammals (n = 8), three species of carnivores (n = 17) and one species of primates (n = 2). Three further species of road-killed mammalian carnivores were sampled postmortem (n = 15). Finally, blood samples were also drawn and analyzed from six species of water-associated (n = 44) and three species of predatory birds (n = 47). Ecdysteroids were detected in two out of 136 samples: from a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) that contained 58.9 nM 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and from a beech marten (Martes foina) that contained 40.9 nM dacryhainansterone (a phytoecdysteroid). Although these concentrations do not mean evidence for sustained biological or anabolic effects, 20E was reported to transactivate estrogen receptors β and α with EC50 values of 13.0 and 25.7 nM, respectively. Accordingly, our results show for the first time that ecdysteroids may be present in pharmacologically relevant concentrations in the blood of predominantly carnivorous species of birds and mammals. However, unlike in songbirds and bats which continuously feed on insects, detectable levels of ecdysteroids appear only rarely in the blood of opportunistic insectivores, therefore their health benefits remain questionable in artificially and occasionally insect-fed zoo animals.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary", "HUN-REN UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary", "Institute of Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary", "Department of Forensic Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary", "Hannover Zoo, Hannover, Germany", "HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Tihany, Hungary", "Nyíregyházi Állatpark Nonprofit Kft. (Sosto Zoo), Nyíregyháza, Hungary", "HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary", "Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary", "Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Budapest, Hungary", "Department of Exotic Animal, Wildlife, Fish and Honeybee Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary", "Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary", "Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary", "Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary", "HUN-REN-SZTE Biologically Active Natural Products Research Group, Szeged, Hungary" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 15, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Sándor Hornok" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Róbert Berkecz" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Andor Pitó" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Paula Baro" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Kathrin M. Röper" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "József Lanszki" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Alexandra Biácsi" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Károly Erdélyi" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Endre Sós" }, { "affs": [ 9 ], "name": "Viktor Molnár" }, { "affs": [ 10 ], "name": "Endre Papp" }, { "affs": [ 11 ], "name": "Sándor Boldogh" }, { "affs": [ 12 ], "name": "Solt Szabolcs" }, { "affs": [ 13 ], "name": "Gergő Keve" }, { "affs": [ 14 ], "name": "Attila Hunyadi" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/31p4d4hey2pcz.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357290", "fulltext_url": null, "id": "31p4d4hey2pcz", "issns": [ "1932-6203" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357290", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2307|Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Blood" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Birds" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Bats" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Eutheria/Carnivora" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Primates" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Blood" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Birds" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Bats" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Eutheria/Carnivora" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Primates" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Entomology/Insects" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Blood" ] ], "openalex": "W7164800643", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357290&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-02", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/31p4d4hey2pcz.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357290", "source": "plos", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357290" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "biology", "origin": "plos:zoology", "subfield": "zoology-behaviour" } ], "title": "Do insect food-derived ecdysteroids appear in the blood of waterfowl, predatory birds, carnivorous mammals and primates?", "title_text": "Do insect food-derived ecdysteroids appear in the blood of waterfowl, predatory birds, carnivorous mammals and primates?", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/31p4d4hey2pcz", "venue": "PLOS One", "versions": [] }