Bat flight and zoonotic viruses
Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Abstract
Bats are sources of high viral diversity and high-profile zoonotic viruses worldwide. Although apparently not pathogenic in their reservoir hosts, some viruses from bats severely affect other mammals, including humans. Examples include severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses, Ebola and Marburg viruses, and Nipah and Hendra viruses. Factors underlying high viral diversity in bats are the subject of speculation. We hypothesize that flight, a factor common to all bats but to no other mammals, provides an intensive selective force for coexistence with viral parasites through a daily cycle that elevates metabolism and body temperature analogous to the febrile response in other mammals. On an evolutionary scale, this host–virus interaction might have resulted in the large diversity of zoonotic viruses in bats, possibly through bat viruses adapting to be more tolerant of the fever response and less virulent to their natural hosts.
Suggested Citation
O’Shea, T.J., Cryan, P., Cunningham, A.A., Fooks, A.R., Hayman, D.T., Luis, A.D., Peel, A., Plowright, R., Wood, J.L., 2014, Bat flight and zoonotic viruses: Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 20, no. 5, p. 741-745, https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2005.130539.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Bat flight and zoonotic viruses |
| Series title | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| DOI | 10.3201/eid2005.130539 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |
| Description | 5 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| First page | 741 |
| Last page | 745 |