A recent epidemiologic study demonstrated that vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) can be infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus.  The study conducted in Peru differentiated between two locations of bats reflecting coastal and inland communities.  Bats preying on marine mammals and birds demonstrated antibodies to the virus only after the epidemic among marine mammals. There was little evidence of sustained transmission among bats in the implicated colony with only eight percent showing seroconversion.  Inland bats that prey on livestock did not show antibodies to H5N1.   

Bat species including flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) acquired H5N1 in Bangladesh during 2023. In this report the frugivorous bats were in all probability infected by cohabitation with affected crows.

In laboratory investigations complementary to the field studies in Peru the research team at The University of Glasgow demonstrated that H5 antigen binds to respiratory tissue of vampire bats Bat-derived lung, liver and kidney cell preparations supported growth of avian and mammalian H5 clade 2.3.4.4b virus.

In commenting on the significance of the study on vampire bats Dr. Richard Webby, a prominent virologist affiliated to St. Jude Childrens’ Research hospital noted that the findings “were not something we should get too worried about”. He added “Anytime we find H5N1 in a different species or a different route of infection, that increases the pandemic risk”. 

Tu, I-Ting. Spillover of H5 influenza virus to vampire bats at the marine-terrestrial interface.  bioRXiv doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.09.686930