# Bacterial Composition Across Bat Species: A Human Health Perspective

## TL;DR

This paper reviews recent studies on bacteria found in bats, highlighting potential risks to human health and the need for better data reporting.

## Contribution

The study compiles and analyzes recent data on bat-associated bacteria, emphasizing their public health implications and the need for standardized reporting.

## Key findings

- Over 4700 bacterial species were identified in bats, including known human pathogens.
- Many of these bacteria are linked to serious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
- Standardized reporting practices are urgently needed to improve data utility for public health.

## Abstract

Bats are one of the most diverse groups of mammals, with almost 1400 species found across nearly every part of the world. They play important roles in nature by helping pollinate plants, spread seeds, and control insect populations. However, bats can also carry a wide variety of microbes, some of which may cause disease in humans and animals. Recent outbreaks of illnesses that started in animals have drawn attention to the study of bacteria found in bats. In this work, we reviewed published studies from the last five years that used modern genetic tools to identify bacteria living in or around bats, especially in their droppings. We found reports of thousands of bacterial species, including some that are already known to cause infections in people. While many of these microbes are harmless or only dangerous in special cases, others are considered global health priorities because they are linked to serious diseases or are resistant to treatment. Understanding which bacteria are most commonly shared among bats may help scientists develop early warning systems for future outbreaks. Our study also shows the need for clearer and more consistent reporting methods so that this information can be better used to protect both public health and animal welfare.

Bats are widely recognized as reservoirs of diverse bacterial pathogens with important implications for human health. Recent zoonotic disease outbreaks have intensified interest in bat microbiomes, with high-throughput sequencing increasingly used to assess microbial diversity. In this article, we review literature from the past five years on bacterial species associated with bats and their potential clinical relevance. Using automated searches and manual filtering, we extracted data from 47 peer-reviewed studies. Most research has focused on guano samples, though interest in skin microbiomes is rising, particularly in relation to Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the agent of white-nose syndrome. China leads in the number of publications, followed by the United States, and amplicon sequencing remains the predominant metagenomic method. Across studies, 4700 bacterial species were reported, including several known human pathogens capable of aerosol transmission or opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Many of these taxa are classified as global priority targets for antimicrobial drug development by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Given the clinical severity of diseases linked to some species, bats should be integrated into epidemiological surveillance systems. However, the lack of standardized reporting practices significantly limits the comparability and utility of bat microbiome data for robust ecological and epidemiological analyses.