Permanent Link:

https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0069648/00001

Material Information

Title:

Bats: Important Reservoir Hosts of Emerging Viruses

Series Title:

Clinical Micrpbiology Reviews

Creator:

Calisher, Charles H.
Childs, James E.
Field, Hume E.
Holmes, Kathryn V.
Schountz, Tony

Publication Date:

2006

Language:

English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:

Bats ( local )
Reservoir Hosts ( local )
Viruses ( local )
Flying Foxes ( local )

Genre:

serial ( sobekcm )

Notes

Abstract:

Bats (order Chiroptera, suborders Megachiroptera [“flying foxes”] and Microchiroptera) are abundant, diverse, and geographically widespread. These mammals provide us with resources, but their importance is minimized and many of their populations and species are at risk, even threatened or endangered. Some of their characteristics (food choices, colonial or solitary nature, population structure, ability to fly, seasonal migration and daily movement patterns, torpor and hibernation, life span, roosting behaviors, ability to echolocate, virus susceptibility) make them exquisitely suitable hosts of viruses and other disease agents. Bats of certain species are well recognized as being capable of transmitting rabies virus, but recent observations of outbreaks and epidemics of newly recognized human and livestock diseases caused by viruses transmitted by various megachiropteran and microchiropteran bats have drawn attention anew to these remarkable mammals. This paper summarizes information regarding chiropteran characteristics and information regarding 66 viruses that have been isolated from bats. From these summaries, it is clear that we do not know enough about bat biology; we are doing too little in terms of bat conservation; and there remain a multitude of questions regarding the role of bats in disease emergence.

Original Version:

Clinical Micrpbiology Reviews, Vol. 19, no. 3 (2006).

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of South Florida Library

Holding Location:

University of South Florida

Rights Management:

This object is protected by copyright, and is made available here for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

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University of South Florida
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Postcard Information

Format:

serial