A concerning new study published February 19th in The Royal Society reveals how habitat destruction could be making viral outbreaks more likely by forcing bats to change their diets.
The research, led by scientists at Montana State University, examined how different diets affect the way Jamaican fruit bats handle viral infections. Their findings suggest that when bats are forced to eat suboptimal foods – as often happens when their natural habitats are destroyed – they may become more efficient at spreading viruses.
The study specifically looked at three different diets: a standard healthy diet (fruit with protein supplements), a high-sugar low-protein diet (mimicking commercial fruits), and a high-fat low-protein diet (similar to what bats might get from non-native palm trees). The researchers then infected the bats with an influenza A virus to see how their diets affected viral shedding.
The results were clear: bats on the high-sugar, low-protein diet – similar to what they might find when feeding on commercial fruit crops – shed more viral RNA and for longer periods than those on a normal diet. These bats also ate more food to maintain their weight, suggesting they would need to spend more time foraging in the wild.
Importantly, the study found that bats on both suboptimal diets consumed more food than those on the standard diet, despite maintaining similar weights. This increased feeding behavior could mean more contact between bats and other species in the wild, potentially increasing transmission risks.
This research marks the first experimental demonstration of how dietary changes caused by habitat loss might affect viral transmission in bats. It suggests that protecting bat habitats isn’t just about conservation – it’s about preventing conditions that could make viral spillover more likely.
What makes these findings particularly significant is that they show how human modification of landscapes might be inadvertently creating conditions that increase disease risks. By forcing bats to rely on suboptimal food sources, we may be altering their physiology in ways that affect how they handle viral infections.
The study’s findings have important implications for understanding how environmental changes might influence disease emergence, suggesting that habitat preservation could be crucial for preventing future outbreaks.
Research Study Source
Falvo, C.A., Crowley, D.E., Benson, E., Hall, M.N., Schwarz, B., Bohrnsen, E., Ruiz-Aravena, M., Hebner, M., Ma, W., Schountz, T., Rynda-Apple, A., & Plowright, R.K. (February 19, 2025). Diet-induced changes in metabolism influence immune response and viral shedding in Jamaican fruit bats. Royal Society Open Science, 242482. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.2482
