Eco-Virological Patterns of Zoonotic Viruses in Neotropical Bats: Insights for Host Species Distributed in the Northern Andes—A Scoping Review and Trait-Based Analysis
TL;DR
The findings provide a baseline of potential viral diversity and virus–host associations for bat species occurring in the Northern Andes rather than direct evidence of local viral circulation, and underscore the need for strengthened surveillance and One Health research across the Northern Andes.
Abstract
Bats are recognized as important reservoirs of zoonotic viruses; however, the ecological determinants shaping virus–host associations in regions of high biodiversity remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a scoping review and a trait-based analysis to characterize eco-virological patterns of zoonotic RNA viruses reported in Neotropical bat species whose distributions include the Northern Andes (Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela). We compiled 578 unique viral detection records reported across Neotropics from 235 studies and sequence records for 56 bat species occurring in the Northern Andes, including members of the families Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, and Rhabdoviridae. Ecological, spatial, and life-history traits of host species were incorporated, and their associations were evaluated using multiple correspondence analysis, chi-square tests, and Cramér’s V statistics. Although multivariate analyses and flow diagrams suggested recurrent ecological patterns, statistical tests revealed weak and non-significant associations between viral families and ecological traits (V = 0.05–0.20; p > 0.05). Viral records were concentrated in lowland, non-migratory species with generalist roosting behavior and frequent use of anthropogenic habitats; however, these patterns likely reflect host availability and sampling effort rather than ecological specialization. Viral detections were distributed across multiple ecological contexts, suggesting broad virus–host associations among Neotropical bat species. Importantly, we identified a marked geographical bias in the available evidence: 64.0% of records originated from Brazil, whereas direct records from the Northern Andes were scarce (Colombia: 5.0%) or absent (Ecuador and Venezuela: 0%). Consequently, our findings provide a baseline of potential viral diversity and virus–host associations for bat species occurring in the Northern Andes rather than direct evidence of local viral circulation. These results highlight critical knowledge gaps and underscore the need for strengthened surveillance and One Health research across the Northern Andes.