OmniVira

Discovery of a novel coltivirus in a newly identified Bat Bug Species (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) in Cambodia.

Jurre Y Siegers1 Heidi Auerswald1 Pierre-Olivier Maquart2 Tamara Szentiványi3,4 Julia Guillebaud1 Thavry Hoem1 Xiang Li5 Kimhuor Suor2 Leakhena Pum1 Limmey Khun1 Sithun Nuon1 Kimlay Chea1 Vireak Heang1 Kathrina Mae Bienes1 Yvonne C F Su5 Veasna Duong1,6 Janin Nouhin1 Sébastien Boyer2 Erik A Karlsson1,7
Affiliations 7 institutions
  1. Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Pasteur Network, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  2. Medical and Veterinary entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Pasteur Network, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  3. HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary.
  4. Institute of Metagenomics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
  5. Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
  6. Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  7. Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence (CIBU), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
PMID42258525 DOI10.1371/journal.pntd.0014372 Year2026 Journal PLoS neglected tropical diseases PLoS Negl Trop Dis Languageeng Statusaheadofprint

Abstract

Bats and their ectoparasites are significant reservoirs and potential vectors of emerging zoonotic pathogens, yet the viral diversity within bat-associated arthropods remains poorly characterized. This study reports the identification of a novel coltivirus (order Reovirales), provisionally designated Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV), in a newly described bat bug species, Stricticimex phnomsampovensis, collected from cave-dwelling wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats (Mops plicatus) in Cambodia. Metagenomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that SCCV clusters within the Coltivirus genus, showing closest similarity to Tai Forest Reovirus (TFRV) previously isolated from African bats. SCCV was detected in 18.4% of examined bat bugs and successfully isolated in VeroE6 cells, with replication confirmed in multiple mammalian cell lines. The discovery of SCCV extends the known diversity and geographic range of coltiviruses and highlights bat ectoparasites as overlooked hosts of potentially zoonotic viruses. These findings underscore the importance of integrated One Health surveillance targeting both bats and their ectoparasites to better assess the risk of pathogen spillover in biodiverse regions with high human-animal contact.

Supporting text Virus Host Location

Evidence records

4 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 3 evidence types
Evidence type Virus Isolation
1 records
OVE11288 Virus Isolation
Key finding

Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV) was successfully isolated from bat bug samples in VeroE6 cells, and infectious replication was confirmed in multiple mammalian cell lines.

Virus
Coltivirus
Host
bedbugs Cimicidae Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

SCCV was detected in 18.4% of examined bat bugs and successfully isolated in VeroE6 cells, with replication confirmed in multiple mammalian cell lines.

Sample type
bat bug samples
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE11287 Viral Detection
Key finding

Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV) was detected in bat bugs (Stricticimex phnomsampovensis) collected from cave-dwelling wrinkle‑lipped free‑tailed bats (Mops plicatus) in Cambodia.

Virus
Coltivirus
Host
Stricticimex phnomsampovensis Natural host bedbugs Cimicidae Natural host
Location
Cambodia
Supporting text

SCCV was detected in 18.4% of examined bat bugs ... collected from cave‑dwelling wrinkle‑lipped free‑tailed bats (Mops plicatus) in Cambodia.

Method
metagenomic sequencing | phylogenetic analysis
Sample type
bat bugs
Geographic raw
Cambodia
Country inferred
KHM
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE11290 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV) was identified in bat bugs collected from bats in Cambodia, suggesting bat ectoparasites act as ecological hosts of coltiviruses.

Virus
Coltivirus
Host
bedbugs Cimicidae Natural host
Location
Cambodia
Supporting text

This study reports the identification of a novel coltivirus (order Reovirales), provisionally designated Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV), in a newly described bat bug species, Stricticimex phnomsampovensis, collected from cave-dwelling wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats (Mops plicatus) in Cambodia.

Method
metagenomic sequencing | phylogenetic analysis | virus isolation in VeroE6 cells
Sample type
bat ectoparasites
Geographic raw
Cambodia
Country inferred
KHM
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
1 records
OVE11289 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Phylogenetic analysis showed that Stricticimex coltivirus (SCCV) clusters within the Coltivirus genus and is most closely related to Tai Forest Reovirus from African bats.

Virus
Coltivirus Taï Forest reovirus
Host
bats Chiroptera Context pending
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Metagenomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that SCCV clusters within the Coltivirus genus, showing closest similarity to Tai Forest Reovirus (TFRV) previously isolated from African bats.

Analysis methods
metagenomic sequencing | phylogenetic analysis