Viral Diversity, Prey Preference, and Bartonella Prevalence in Desmodus rotundus in Guatemala

• Published in: EcoHealth Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 761 - 774
• Main Authors: Wray, Amy K., Olival, Kevin J., Morán, David, Lopez, Maria Renee, Alvarez, Danilo, Navarrete-Macias, Isamara, Liang, Eliza, Simmons, Nancy B., Lipkin, W. Ian, Daszak, Peter, Anthony, Simon J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenoviridae; Animal Ecology; Animal species; Bartonella; Bos taurus; Desmodus rotundus; Disease transmission; Domestic animals; Ecosystems; Environmental Health; Feeding behavior; Filovirus; Genetic diversity; Herpesviridae; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbiology; Original Contribution; Pathogens; Predation; Prey; Public Health; Reservoirs; Rhabdoviridae; Social behavior; Viruses; Water and Health; Guatemala; bats; feeding preference; rhabdovirus; herpesvirus; adenovirus; viral; pathogen discovery; disease ecology; Chiroptera; Bartonella

Certain bat species serve as natural reservoirs for pathogens in several key viral families including henipa-, lyssa-, corona-, and filoviruses, which may pose serious threats to human health. The Common Vampire Bat ( Desmodus rotundus) , due to its abundance, sanguivorous feeding habit involving hu...