Islam Shariful, Kangoyé Napoko Malika, Velasco-Villa Andrés, Diallo Abdoulaye Hama, Katani Robab, Escobar Luis E
Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
Global Change Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Sep 9;12:1605150. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1605150. eCollection 2025.
Bats serve as reservoir hosts for numerous zoonotic pathogens of public health significance, including coronaviruses, lyssaviruses, and henipaviruses, while simultaneously playing critical roles in ecosystem function through pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. The increasing frequency of bat-associated disease outbreaks has intensified research interest; yet standardized protocols for safe and effective bat sampling remain fragmented. We conducted a systematic review of bat sampling practices and synthesized comprehensive guidelines for capturing, handling, and sampling free-ranging bats for epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigations. Our framework emphasizes three key elements, including (i) biosecurity measures to prevent pathogen spillover transmission from bats to humans, (ii) biosafety protocols to avoid spillback transmission, and (iii) welfare considerations to minimize the impact on bat populations. Through analysis of published literature and field protocols, we identified significant gaps between recommended and common practices in bat research. We present evidence-based recommendations for capture techniques, specimen collection, sample processing, and storage methods, with particular attention to maintaining sample quality while ensuring safety. Additionally, we provide detailed guidance for field laboratory setup, personnel training requirements, and emergency response procedures. The implementation of these standardized protocols will enhance the quality and compatibility of bat research data while protecting both human and bat health. This guide serves as a foundation for safe, ethical, and effective investigation of bat-borne pathogen epidemiology and ecology, particularly in resource-limited settings where disease emergence risks are often highest.
蝙蝠是多种具有公共卫生意义的人畜共患病原体的储存宿主，包括冠状病毒、狂犬病病毒和亨尼帕病毒，同时通过授粉、种子传播和害虫控制在生态系统功能中发挥关键作用。与蝙蝠相关的疾病爆发频率不断增加，这激发了更多的研究兴趣；然而，用于安全有效采集蝙蝠样本的标准化方案仍然零散。我们对蝙蝠采样实践进行了系统综述，并综合制定了全面的指南，用于捕捉、处理和采集自由放养的蝙蝠样本，以进行流行病学监测和疫情调查。我们的框架强调三个关键要素，包括：（i）生物安全措施，以防止病原体从蝙蝠溢出传播给人类；（ii）生物安全协议，以避免反向传播；（iii）福利考量，以尽量减少对蝙蝠种群的影响。通过分析已发表的文献和实地方案，我们发现蝙蝠研究中推荐做法与常见做法之间存在重大差距。我们针对捕获技术、标本采集、样本处理和储存方法提出基于证据的建议，特别关注在确保安全的同时保持样本质量。此外，我们还为野外实验室设置、人员培训要求和应急响应程序提供详细指导。实施这些标准化方案将提高蝙蝠研究数据的质量和兼容性，同时保护人类和蝙蝠的健康。本指南为安全、符合伦理且有效地调查蝙蝠传播病原体的流行病学和生态学奠定了基础，特别是在疾病出现风险通常最高的资源有限环境中。
