Viral reservoir dynamics in bats and interactions with vectors: Global and Türkiye perspectives.

Bats are natural reservoirs for over 4400 viruses across 110 recognized viral families due to their high species diversity, long lifespans, and unique physiological adaptations. Their tolerance to viral infections without clinical disease stems from constitutive interferon-alpha (IFN-α) activity, high metabolic rates during flight, and tightly regulated inflammatory responses. Anthropogenic pressures including deforestation and urbanization intensify human-bat contact, facilitating viral spillover. Beyond direct transmission, bat-associated ectoparasites - ticks, bat flies, and mosquitoes - may serve as vectors and potential bridge hosts in viral maintenance and interspecies transmission, although the degree of vector competence varies considerably across taxa and viral systems. This review examines bat-virus interactions globally and in Türkiye, which hosts 39 bat species at the intersection of African and Eurasian faunal regions. Recent discoveries highlight the public health importance of bat-vector-virus networks; Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) detection in bat-associated ticks, tick salivary gland extract (SGE) supporting Kasokero virus (KASV) persistence, and Oita virus circulation for 50 years. This review presents the ecology of major bat-associated viral families, including Rhabdoviridae, Filoviridae, Coronaviridae, Nairoviridae, Flaviviridae, and Paramyxoviridae, while also discussing selected additional groups such as Reovirales, Iflaviridae, Togaviridae, and other emerging bat-associated viruses in relation to bat-vector interactions. Rather than excluding bats from ecosystems, comprehensive monitoring of bat-vector-virus networks through a One Health approach is critical for preventing zoonotic outbreaks in an era of climate change and increasing human-nature interaction.