{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T17:32:06Z","timestamp":1787592726445,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,24]],"date-time":"2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745452800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Kopaonik National Park, Serbia","award":["665\/24"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["665\/24"]}]},{"name":"Kopaonik National Park, Serbia","award":["2-163"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2-163"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This pilot study investigated the presence of potentially zoonotic microorganisms in bat species from Kopaonik National Park, Serbia. A total of 40 individuals from 12 bat species were sampled and screened using microbiological and molecular methods. Salmonella spp., Chlamydia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Leptospira spp., Lyssavirus, Filoviridae, henipaviruses, and SARS-CoV-2 were not detected in any bats. Coronavirus genomes were confirmed in four bats\u2014one Myotis brandtii, two Myotis daubentonii, and one Myotis cf. mystacinus. Sequence analysis identified the presence of alphacoronavirus genomes with high similarity to strains previously found in Europe. Mycoplasma spp. genomes were found in 18 bats (45%), and Rickettsia spp. were detected in five bats (12.5%), although species-level identification was not possible. The findings highlight the presence of certain bacteria and viruses in bats that could have implications for public health, especially in areas with close human\u2013wildlife interaction. Although no direct evidence of high-risk pathogens was found, the results support the importance of continued surveillance and ecological studies on bats, given their role as potential reservoirs. Monitoring bat-associated microorganisms is essential to better understand possible transmission routes and improve the prevention of emerging zoonotic diseases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12050401","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,24]],"date-time":"2025-04-24T09:26:58Z","timestamp":1745486818000},"page":"401","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Identification and Characterization of Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in Free-Living Bats of Kopaonik National Park, Serbia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0192-5120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dejan","family":"Vidanovi\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nikola","family":"Vaskovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marko","family":"Dmitri\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1126-3036","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bojana","family":"Te\u0161ovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mihailo","family":"Debeljak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Milovan","family":"Stojanovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8834-4200","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivana","family":"Budinski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research \u201cSini\u0161a Stankovi\u0107\u201d\u2014National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1077","DOI":"10.20506\/rst.39.3.3198","article-title":"Ecology of Bats and Their Role in Emerging Zoonotic Diseases: A Review","volume":"39","author":"Biswas","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rev. 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