What does this research mean for the field?

The Americas represent a high-risk hotspot for zoonotic spillover where rapid socio-ecological changes drive bat-rodent-human viral interactions, necessitating an interface-based approach to surveillance rather than treating wildlife reservoirs in isolation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.ESTABLISHES_NEW_DIRECTION.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Synthesize ecological and virological evidence regarding RNA virus transmission across interconnected bat, rodent, and human interfaces in the Americas to improve spillover prevention.

September 3, 2026Critical Reviews in MicrobiologyOpen Access

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

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Authors

CACéline Arnathau AGAndres Garchitorena BRBenjamin Roche

Discussion

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Overview

Narrative review synthesizes zoonotic RNA viral transmission at bat-rodent-human interfaces in the Americas, highlighting shared ecological spaces as critical targets to curb spillover.

Key Points

Synthesize ecological and virological evidence regarding RNA virus transmission across interconnected bat, rodent, and human interfaces in the Americas to improve spillover prevention.
Synthesized published evidence on four RNA virus groups (astroviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, and lyssaviruses) with high genetic diversity and host ranges in bats and rodents.
Evaluated transmission interfaces driven by land-use alteration, urbanization, shared food resources, co-roosting in anthropogenic structures, and environmental aerosol contamination.
Identified environmental shedding via guano and urine aerosols alongside shared anthropogenic structures as primary transmission pathways between bats and rodents.
Highlighted commensal rodents as critical bridge hosts that facilitate the movement of bat-borne pathogens into human domestic environments.
Identified major surveillance limitations, specifically geographic sampling biases, an absence of viral infectivity data, and poor integration of host movement ecology.

Cite This Study

Arnathau et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9934ea636c6408cfa7ca5b https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841x.2026.2719579

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September 3, 2026Critical Reviews in MicrobiologyOpen Access

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

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

CACéline Arnathau AGAndres Garchitorena BRBenjamin Roche

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Narrative review synthesizes zoonotic RNA viral transmission at bat-rodent-human interfaces in the Americas, highlighting shared ecological spaces as critical targets to curb spillover.

Key Points

Synthesize ecological and virological evidence regarding RNA virus transmission across interconnected bat, rodent, and human interfaces in the Americas to improve spillover prevention.
Synthesized published evidence on four RNA virus groups (astroviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, and lyssaviruses) with high genetic diversity and host ranges in bats and rodents.
Evaluated transmission interfaces driven by land-use alteration, urbanization, shared food resources, co-roosting in anthropogenic structures, and environmental aerosol contamination.
Identified environmental shedding via guano and urine aerosols alongside shared anthropogenic structures as primary transmission pathways between bats and rodents.
Highlighted commensal rodents as critical bridge hosts that facilitate the movement of bat-borne pathogens into human domestic environments.
Identified major surveillance limitations, specifically geographic sampling biases, an absence of viral infectivity data, and poor integration of host movement ecology.

Cite This Study

Arnathau et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9934ea636c6408cfa7ca5b https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841x.2026.2719579

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark