Distribution of bat-borne viruses and environment patterns

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Virology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Environmental changes drive biodiversity loss and habitat disturbance, increasing wildlife-human contact and zoonotic disease emergence.
• Bats are reservoirs for diverse viruses, including coronaviruses and astroviruses, posing potential public health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between environmental and land-use factors and the presence of bat-associated coronaviruses and astroviruses.
• To understand how habitat transformation influences virus-host associations in bats.

Main Methods:

• Remote spatial data analysis of environmental and land-use characteristics around bat sampling sites.
• Correlation analysis between virus detection (coronavirus and astrovirus) and specific habitat types.

Main Results:

• A significant association was observed between specific bat viruses and their habitats.
• Viruses in synanthropic bats (e.g., Myotis, Scotophilus) were linked to human-altered, transformed habitats.
• Viruses in fruit bats correlated with natural environments, including dense forests, grasslands, and high elevations.
• Group C betacoronaviruses were specifically associated with mosaic habitats in anthropized areas.

Conclusions:

• Bat host genera and their associated viruses exhibit distinct habitat preferences.
• Human-altered landscapes can promote the circulation of specific bat viruses, potentially increasing zoonotic spillover risks.
• Understanding these habitat-virus-host dynamics is crucial for predicting and mitigating zoonotic disease emergence.