[Bats in Israel: is there a reason for medical concern?]

Bats (classified in the order Chiroptera) are the most abundant and widely distributed species of mammals in the world. They occupy a variety of ecosystems and are known for their ecological importance as seed dispersers, pollinators and insectivores. The order Chiroptera, containing 33 known species, is the largest mammalian order in Israel Bats are homothermous, can fly for long distances, have long life spans and are very often highly gregarious. These traits make them important reservoir hosts of viruses. Some bat viruses have the potential, or proven capability, of crossing species barriers and becoming zoonotic. Direct infection from bats has not been reported in Israel, and infected bats have not been found. Nonetheless, bats, especially the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are very common in urban areas. Interaction with wounded or young bats can lead to bites or scratches. In this review the authors describe bats, their ecology and their potential to be vectors for zoonotic viruses.