Bat–rodent–human interfaces in the Americas: a synthesis of zoonotic pathways

Résumé fourni par la source

Emerging zoonoses often arise at wildlife–human interfaces, yet prevention efforts still treat wildlife reservoirs in isolation. This review synthesizes evidence on RNA viruses detected in bats and rodents across the Americas and examines the ecological interfaces underlying bat–rodent–human transmission. Rather than an exhaustive inventory, we adopt an interface-based perspective on cross-species transmission. We focus on astroviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, and lyssaviruses—groups combining high genetic diversity, broad host ranges, and documented or suspected zoonotic potential. We describe interfaces created by land-use change, urbanization, shared food and water resources, co-roosting in human-made structures, environmental contamination (guano- and urine-borne aerosols), and seasonality of shedding. Key gaps include geographic sampling biases, limited infectivity data, and scarce integration of host movement, contact ecology, and human practices. Prevention priorities include longitudinal surveillance along rural–urban gradients, genomic tracking of cross-species transmission, experimental work on commensal rodents that may bridge bats and humans, and co-designed community interventions. Given the region’s exceptional biodiversity and rapid socio-ecological change, the Americas represent a hotspot where bat–rodent–human viral interactions may increase spillover risk. Recognizing and monitoring this overlooked interface can sharpen early warning and inform cost-effective prevention. Zoonotic emergence in the Americas is shaped by ecological reorganization and socio-environmental change, which restructure contact networks and create recurrent interfaces linking wildlife reservoirs, domestic animals, and humans.Bats and rodents host high diversity of RNA viruses of public health concern in the Americas; evidence is synthesized here for astroviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, and lyssaviruses across North, Central, and South America.Rather than host–virus inventories, this Review organizes evidence around interfaces that enable cross-species exposure: land-use change, urbanization, shared food and water resources, roosting in human-made structures, environmental contamination, and seasonal shedding pulses.We propose a complementary-reservoir framework: bats often act as sources of viral diversity and long-range dispersal, whereas synanthropic rodents can function as local amplifiers and epidemiological bridges at human–wildlife interfaces.Although no complete bat–rodent–human transmission chain is documented in the Americas, converging ecological, phylogenetic, and experimental evidence supports plausible pathways operating through shared anthropogenic interfaces, in both directions between bats and rodents.Moving from plausibility to causal inference requires integrated approaches: longitudinal co-sampling of hosts and environments, temporal viral genomics to test directionality, viability and infectivity assays, and behavioral data on human practices shaping exposure and intervention points. Zoonotic emergence in the Americas is shaped by ecological reorganization and socio-environmental change, which restructure contact networks and create recurrent interfaces linking wildlife reservoirs, domestic animals, and humans. Bats and rodents host high diversity of RNA viruses of public health concern in the Americas; evidence is synthesized here for astroviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, and lyssaviruses across North, Central, and South America. Rather than host–virus inventories, this Review organizes evidence around interfaces that enable cross-species exposure: land-use change, urbanization, shared food and water resources, roosting in human-made structures, environmental contamination, and seasonal shedding pulses. We propose a complementary-reservoir framework: bats often act as sources of viral diversity and long-range dispersal, whereas synanthropic rodents can function as local amplifiers and epidemiological bridges at human–wildlife interfaces. Although no complete bat–rodent–human transmission chain is documented in the Americas, converging ecological, phylogenetic, and experimental evidence supports plausible pathways operating through shared anthropogenic interfaces, in both directions between bats and rodents. Moving from plausibility to causal inference requires integrated approaches: longitudinal co-sampling of hosts and environments, temporal viral genomics to test directionality, viability and infectivity assays, and behavioral data on human practices shaping exposure and intervention points.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.