[Not Available].
More than 1 240 species of bats are known; many of them are insectivorous, others are frugivorous and some american species are haematophagous. More than 100 diferent viruses are associated with these mammals, particularly Rhabdoviridae (Lyssavirus like rabies virus), Paramyxoviridae (like Nipah and Hendra viruses), Filoviridae (Ebola and Marburg viruses) and Coronavirida (viruses causing SARS and MERS). These infections are usually asymptomatic in bats but the mechanism of this tolerance is not yet understood. For those viruses, bats are efficient reservoirs and disseminators. So, they represent a significative risk for human and animal public health, that justifies to set up surveillance of bat-associated viruses and research programs about the particular immunity mechanisms of bats.
François
F
Rodhain
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D018702:Filoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*