Bats carry a great diversity of zoonotic viruses with a high-impact on human health and livestock. Since the emergence of new coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses in humans (e.g. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Nipah virus), numerous studies clearly established that bats can maintain some of these viruses. Improving our understanding on the role of bats in the epidemiology of the pathogens they harbour is necessary to prevent cross-species spill over along the wild/domestic/human gradient. In this study, we screened bat faecal samples for the presence of Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus in two caves frequently visited by local people to collect manure and/or to hunt bats in Zimbabwe. We amplified partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes of Alpha and Betacoronavirus together with the partial polymerase gene of Paramyxovirus. Identified coronaviruses were related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus belonged to the recently described Jeilongvirus genus. Our results highlighted the importance of monitoring virus circulation in wildlife, especially bats, in the context of intense human-wildlife interfaces in order to strengthen prevention measures among local populations and to implement sentinel surveillance in sites with high zoonotic diseases transmission potential.
Phylogenetic analysis of partial polymerase gene sequences from Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, and Paramyxovirus in Hipposideros bats showed that the bat coronaviruses were closely related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus clustered with Jeilongvirus.
We amplified partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes of Alpha and Betacoronavirus together with the partial polymerase gene of Paramyxovirus. Identified coronaviruses were related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus belonged to the recently described Jeilongvirus genus.
Genes or proteins
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analysis
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.85
Key finding
Partial polymerase gene of Betacoronavirus detected in Hipposideros bats was related to human pathogenic coronavirus strains.
We amplified partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes of Alpha and Betacoronavirus together with the partial polymerase gene of Paramyxovirus. Identified coronaviruses were related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus belonged to the recently described Jeilongvirus genus.
Genes or proteins
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analysis
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.85
Key finding
Partial polymerase gene sequencing showed that the Paramyxovirus found in Hipposideros bats clustered within the Jeilongvirus genus.
We amplified partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes of Alpha and Betacoronavirus together with the partial polymerase gene of Paramyxovirus. Identified coronaviruses were related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus belonged to the recently described Jeilongvirus genus.
Genes or proteins
polymerase
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analysis
Reservoir Ecology3 records
Reservoir EcologyExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Hipposideros bats in Zimbabwe maintained Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, and Paramyxovirus, indicating natural viral circulation at sites with close human–bat contact.
We screened bat faecal samples for the presence of Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus in two caves frequently visited by local people to collect manure and/or to hunt bats in Zimbabwe.
Method
field sampling; molecular screening
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Zimbabwe
Country inferred
Zimbabwe
Reservoir EcologyExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Betacoronaviruses were detected in Hipposideros bats in Zimbabwe, showing their maintenance in local bat populations.
Identified coronaviruses were related to pathogenic human strains and the paramyxovirus belonged to the recently described Jeilongvirus genus.
Method
molecular screening
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Zimbabwe
Country inferred
Zimbabwe
Zoonotic Surveillance3 records
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Hipposideros bats in Zimbabwe were screened for Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, and Paramyxovirus, revealing active viral circulation in areas of human–wildlife contact.
In this study, we screened bat faecal samples for the presence of Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus in two caves frequently visited by local people to collect manure and/or to hunt bats in Zimbabwe.
Method
screening; PCR amplification
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Zimbabwe
Country inferred
Zimbabwe
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Hipposideros bats in Zimbabwe were screened for Betacoronavirus circulation at human–wildlife interfaces.
In this study, we screened bat faecal samples for the presence of Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus in two caves frequently visited by local people to collect manure and/or to hunt bats in Zimbabwe.
Method
screening; PCR amplification
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Zimbabwe
Country inferred
Zimbabwe
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Hipposideros bats in Zimbabwe were screened for Paramyxovirus, revealing Jeilongvirus-related sequences.
In this study, we screened bat faecal samples for the presence of Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus in two caves frequently visited by local people to collect manure and/or to hunt bats in Zimbabwe.
Method
screening; PCR amplification
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Zimbabwe
Country inferred
Zimbabwe
Citation context
References
34 references
Reference network
Force-directed citation graph. OmniVira-indexed references are prioritized and recursively expanded up to three steps.
The immune evasion function of J and Beilong virus V proteins is distinct from that of other paramyxoviruses, consistent with their inclusion in the proposed genus Jeilongvirus.
Novel alphacoronaviruses and paramyxoviruses Cocirculate with type 1 and severe acute respiratory system (SARS)-related Betacoronaviruses in Synanthropic bats of Luxembourg
Pauly
2017
-
Fields Virology. Sixth Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Philadelphia: 2013. Coronaviridae; pp. 825–858
