Abstract The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (IAV) clade 2.3.4.4b has spread globally and spilled over into multiple mammalian species , raising concerns about its pandemic potential . In late 2022, clade 2.3.4.4b viruses devastated seabird and marine mammal populations along the Pacific coast of South America . Here, we report the first evidence of H5 IAV infections in wild bats globally, focusing on common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in coastal areas of Peru . Longitudinal serological screening , stable isotope analysis and metabarcoding revealed repeated exposures to H5 IAVs in vampire bats which feed on coastal wildlife species heavily impacted by the 2.3.4.4b epizootic, but no evidence of infection in populations without access to marine prey. We further report bat gene flow between IAV-exposed and IAV-naive populations , and IAV infections in a vampire bat colony that fed on both marine and terrestrial livestock prey, providing insights into how future I...
Media Monitoring for Signals about Emerging Threats