Bat things come in threes: within-host dynamics of herpesvirus triple infection in bats.

ABSTRACT: Co-infections are a common feature of wildlife systems, yet the factors influencing within-host viral dynamics remain largely unclear. In bats, understanding viral community ecology is essential for elucidating shedding patterns and potential drivers of zoonotic spillover risk. In this study, we explore the genetic diversity and within-host dynamics of herpesviruses (HSV) in Mormopterus francoismoutoui, a tropical insectivorous bat endemic to Reunion Island. Over 3 consecutive years, we collected saliva samples from seven roosts, including samples from recaptured individuals. Illumina sequencing of HSV PCR-positive samples revealed a high diversity of strains (n = 20), belonging to alpha, beta, and gamma-HSV subfamilies. Co-infection was frequent, with 44% of bats shedding st

SUBMITTER: Aguillon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12645971 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature