Network analysis of host–virus communities in bats and rodents reveals determinants of cross‐species transmission |
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| Authors: | Angela D Luis Thomas J O'Shea David T S Hayman James L N Wood Andrew A Cunningham Amy T Gilbert James N Mills Colleen T Webb |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, CO, USA;2. Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA;3. Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA;4. U.S. Geological Survey (retired), Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA;5. Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA;6. mEpiLab, Infectious Disease Research Centre (IDReC), Hopkirk Research Institute, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Manawatu, New Zealand;7. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Disease Dynamics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK;8. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, NW1 4RY, UK;9. National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA;10. Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Bats are natural reservoirs of several important emerging viruses. Cross‐species transmission appears to be quite common among bats, which may contribute to their unique reservoir potential. Therefore, understanding the importance of bats as reservoirs requires examining them in a community context rather than concentrating on individual species. Here, we use a network approach to identify ecological and biological correlates of cross‐species virus transmission in bats and rodents, another important host group. We show that given our current knowledge the bat viral sharing network is more connected than the rodent network, suggesting viruses may pass more easily between bat species. We identify host traits associated with important reservoir species: gregarious bats are more likely to share more viruses and bats which migrate regionally are important for spreading viruses through the network. We identify multiple communities of viral sharing within bats and rodents and highlight potential species traits that can help guide studies of novel pathogen emergence. |
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| Keywords: | Chiroptera ecological networks emerging infectious disease Rodentia zoonoses |
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