Investigating the role of bats in emerging zoonoses: Balancing ecology, conservation and public health interest

Investigating
the role of bats
in emerging zoonoses

Balancing ecology, conservation and public health interest

FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH
Manual 12

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2011

Abstract

Capacity development is one of the pillars through which the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations supports member countries. This manual serves as a resource for better understanding the ecology of bats, their natural history, their role in providing ecosystem services, techniques used for monitoring populations, and for the detection, identification and monitoring of viruses naturally circulating in bats and that can have significant implication if they are transmitted to people either through direct contact, or indirectly, through livestock. This manual will engage professionals from multiple disciplines ranging from public health and veterinary medicine to natural resource managers and biologists, but most importantly, highlights the need to understand the anthropogenic drivers resulting in disease transmission from bats to people.

Table of Contents

Authors’ details

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Preface: Scope of this manual

CHAPTER 1
Emerging infectious diseases

Wildlife and emerging infectious diseases
Drivers of emergence
Impact of EIDs
Bats and EIDs
Management strategies

CHAPTER 2
Natural history, ecological and socio-economic value of bats

Taxonomy and distribution
Natural history
Ecosystem roles
Socio-economic roles

CHAPTER 3
Bat population abundance assessment and monitoring

Population abundance assessment
Survey and monitoring design considerations
Application of bat population surveys and monitoring to the study of bat-borne diseases
Conclusion

CHAPTER 4
Disease surveillance in free-ranging bat populations: challenges and logistical considerations

Introduction
Sampling biases
Capture techniques: safety and efficacy
Sampling protocols
Transport
Diagnostic assays/interpretation

CHAPTER 5
Bat population abundance assessment and monitoring

Introduction
Henipaviruses
Lyssaviruses
Bat coronaviruses
Filoviruses

CHAPTER 6
Virus discovery

Introduction
History of virus discovery in bats
Molecular approaches to virus discovery in bats
Improvement of virus isolation from bats
Concluding remarks

CHAPTER 7
The use of telemetry to understand bat movement and ecology

Tracking technology
Discussion

CHAPTER 8
The global context of ensuring the health of people, wildlife, livestock and the environment

CHAPTER 9
Safe handling of bats

Risks of handling bats
Working safely
First aid and medical assessment

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ISBN 978-92-5-107028-4

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