Bat–rodent–human interfaces in the Americas: a synthesis of zoonotic pathways
Abstract
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-rodenthuman 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.
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BibTeX
@article{arnathau2026batrodenthuman,
title = {{Bat–rodent–human interfaces in the Americas: a synthesis of zoonotic pathways}},
author = {Céline Arnathau and Andres Garchitorena and Benjamin Roche and Montserrat-Elemi García-Hernández and Ana Laura Vigueras-Galván and Angel Rodriguez-Moreno and Carlos N Ibarra-Cerdeña and Heliot Zarza and Erika N Hernández Villegas and Stéphanie Jacquet and Florian Liégeois and Pierre Becquart and Andrea Chaves and Raina K Plowright and Jan Felix Drexler and Rosa Elena Sarmiento Silva and Audrey Arnal},
journal = {Critical Reviews in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1080/1040841x.2026.2719579},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05848853v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bat–rodent–human interfaces in the Americas: a synthesis of zoonotic pathways
AU - Céline Arnathau
AU - Andres Garchitorena
AU - Benjamin Roche
AU - Montserrat-Elemi García-Hernández
AU - Ana Laura Vigueras-Galván
AU - Angel Rodriguez-Moreno
AU - Carlos N Ibarra-Cerdeña
AU - Heliot Zarza
AU - Erika N Hernández Villegas
AU - Stéphanie Jacquet
AU - Florian Liégeois
AU - Pierre Becquart
AU - Andrea Chaves
AU - Raina K Plowright
AU - Jan Felix Drexler
AU - Rosa Elena Sarmiento Silva
AU - Audrey Arnal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Critical Reviews in Microbiology
DO - 10.1080/1040841x.2026.2719579
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05848853v1
AB - 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-rodenthuman 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.
SN - 1040-841X
ER -