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Viruses
Volume 17
Issue 12
10.3390/v17121532
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Review

Characterizing the Bat Virome of Vietnam: A Systematic Review of Viral Diversity and Zoonotic Potential

by
Vasilina K. Lapshina
1,
Natalia I. Guskova
1,
Ivan F. Stetsenko
1,
Mo T. Luong
2,
Truong V. Tran
2,
Alina D. Matsvay
1,*,
German A. Shipulin
1,
Sergey M. Yudin
1 and
Veronika I. Skvortsova
3
1
Federal State Budgetary Institution “Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia
2
Southern Branch of the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center, Ho Chi Minh City 731000, Vietnam
3
Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 123182, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1532; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121532 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 October 2025 / Revised: 17 November 2025 / Accepted: 19 November 2025 / Published: 22 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section General Virology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Bats have been identified as reservoir hosts for an exceptional diversity of viruses, including multiple taxa of high zoonotic concern. Over a hundred bat species inhabit Vietnam, which, combined with significant biodiversity, carry high risk of zoonotic spillover due to dense human–animal interfaces, extensive wildlife trade, and proximity to recent outbreak epicenters. This review systematically synthesizes data on the bat virome in Vietnam and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, assessing viral diversity, host species involvement, and zoonotic potential. By prioritizing virus groups with established zoonotic capacity and pandemic potential, the systematic search identified studies reporting viruses from 32 families across 13 bat families. Based on the WHO 2024 risk classification, seven of these viral families were categorized as high-risk, three as medium-risk, and twelve as low-risk. The comparatively higher viral diversity reported in neighboring countries suggests that the current study likely represents an underestimation of the true virome present in Vietnamese bat populations. We emphasize the urgent need for expanded virological studies integrating metagenomic sequencing, serological surveys, and ecological modeling to improve early detection of emerging threats, as the comparatively higher viral diversity reported in neighboring countries suggests existing research likely represents an underestimation of the true virome present in Vietnamese bat populations. Strengthening regional collaboration is critical for establishing proactive pandemic prevention strategies in this high-risk zoonotic hotspot.
Keywords: chiroptera; bat virome; viral diversity; zoonotic potential; emerging viruses; viral reservoirs; Vietnam; Southeast Asia chiroptera; bat virome; viral diversity; zoonotic potential; emerging viruses; viral reservoirs; Vietnam; Southeast Asia

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lapshina, V.K.; Guskova, N.I.; Stetsenko, I.F.; Luong, M.T.; Tran, T.V.; Matsvay, A.D.; Shipulin, G.A.; Yudin, S.M.; Skvortsova, V.I. Characterizing the Bat Virome of Vietnam: A Systematic Review of Viral Diversity and Zoonotic Potential. Viruses 2025, 17, 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121532

AMA Style

Lapshina VK, Guskova NI, Stetsenko IF, Luong MT, Tran TV, Matsvay AD, Shipulin GA, Yudin SM, Skvortsova VI. Characterizing the Bat Virome of Vietnam: A Systematic Review of Viral Diversity and Zoonotic Potential. Viruses. 2025; 17(12):1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121532

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lapshina, Vasilina K., Natalia I. Guskova, Ivan F. Stetsenko, Mo T. Luong, Truong V. Tran, Alina D. Matsvay, German A. Shipulin, Sergey M. Yudin, and Veronika I. Skvortsova. 2025. "Characterizing the Bat Virome of Vietnam: A Systematic Review of Viral Diversity and Zoonotic Potential" Viruses 17, no. 12: 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121532

APA Style

Lapshina, V. K., Guskova, N. I., Stetsenko, I. F., Luong, M. T., Tran, T. V., Matsvay, A. D., Shipulin, G. A., Yudin, S. M., & Skvortsova, V. I. (2025). Characterizing the Bat Virome of Vietnam: A Systematic Review of Viral Diversity and Zoonotic Potential. Viruses, 17(12), 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121532

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