Hemamalani A U, Thangam T, Prakashini R Subha, Kumar P Arun, Parthasarathy Krupakar
Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 600 119, India.
Vet Res Commun. 2025 Aug 8;49(5):275. doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10850-5.
Bats (Order Chiroptera) are ecologically essential and evolutionarily unique mammals, acting as a natural reservoir for innumerable viruses, including several with a high degree of zoonotic significance. The complex and intricate ecology of bat viromes results largely from species diversity, roosting patterns, social structures, immunological adaptations, and their remarkable longevity, especially compared to other small mammals such as rodents. These traits allow bats to carry pathogenic viruses without visible clinical symptoms over extended periods. This review delves into the virome of bat populations focusing on major families like Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Paramyxoviridae and the evolutionary processes leading to their diversity, persistence within populations, and spill-over. The human-induced environmental disturbance in the form of deforestation, cultivation, urbanization, and wildlife trade has increased direct or indirect contact among bats, humans, and domestic animals, increasing the chances of spill-over. The study of historical events in the form of SARS, MERS, Nipah, Ebola is used for practical implications. We also discuss the behavioral and seasonal variations among intra-colony transmission, the role of intermediate hosts, and the critical need of having an effective One Health-based surveillance system. The understanding of ecological and evolutionary drives behind bat virome is necessary for anticipating zoonotic spill-over events, which can be used as a foundation for public health strategies. Finally, the necessity of integrating virology, ecology, and global health policy perspective in human health policy-making is also discussed, in the context of bat virome research, to prevent future pandemics.
蝙蝠（翼手目）是生态上至关重要且在进化上独特的哺乳动物，是无数病毒的天然宿主，包括几种具有高度人畜共患病意义的病毒。蝙蝠病毒组复杂而精细的生态很大程度上源于物种多样性、栖息模式、社会结构、免疫适应以及它们显著的长寿特性，尤其是与啮齿动物等其他小型哺乳动物相比。这些特性使蝙蝠能够长时间携带致病性病毒而无明显临床症状。本综述深入探讨蝙蝠种群的病毒组，重点关注冠状病毒科、丝状病毒科、副粘病毒科等主要病毒家族以及导致其多样性、在种群中持续存在和溢出的进化过程。以森林砍伐、耕种、城市化和野生动物贸易等形式出现的人为环境干扰增加了蝙蝠、人类和家畜之间的直接或间接接触，从而增加了病毒溢出的机会。以严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）、中东呼吸综合征（MERS）、尼帕病毒、埃博拉病毒等历史事件为例进行研究，探讨其实际影响。我们还讨论了群体内传播中的行为和季节变化、中间宿主的作用以及建立基于“同一健康”的有效监测系统的迫切需求。了解蝙蝠病毒组背后的生态和进化驱动力对于预测人畜共患病病毒溢出事件至关重要，可为公共卫生策略奠定基础。最后，在蝙蝠病毒组研究的背景下，还讨论了将病毒学、生态学和全球卫生政策视角纳入人类健康政策制定的必要性，以预防未来的大流行。
