Biological samples were collected from bats using non-lethal, minimally invasive techniques by multiple teams, each including a veterinarian and wildlife biologist with experience in handling bats. In turn, each bat was removed from its bag, and species, sex, pregnancy/lactation status, forearm length, weight and body condition score recorded [20]. A venous blood sample was collected as described by Smith et al. [22] for small species (<100 g), and by Epstein and Field [20] for flying-foxes (>500 g), and stored at 4C on wet ice in the field. Blood sample volume did not exceed 1 % bodyweight in accordance with animal ethics guidelines [23]. Duplicate oropharyngeal, urine/urogenital and rectal swabs were collected where possible, placed in lysis buffer (Nuclisens, Biomerieux, USA), and temporarily stored in a dry shipper at −70C. Samples were transported to the Bureau of Animal Industries (BAI) Philippine Animal Health Centre (PAHC) laboratory in Quezon City daily. Serum was yielded from the blood samples by centrifugation, and all samples collated into two sets where possible, one of which was archived at the PAHC laboratory, and the other subsequently forwarded to the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Australia. Cross-contamination in the field was avoided by holding each bat in a separate clean bag from capture, processing individual bats sequentially, and adopting appropriate biosecurity protocols such as changing or disinfecting gloves between bats, disinfecting the immediate worksite and non-disposable equipment between bats, and using disposable and sterile consumables.