OmniVira

Identification of a putative novel rotavirus A VP4 genotype in bats from an urban Atlantic Forest, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil.

Beatriz Vilete Dias1 Joana Medina Maçaira1 Yan Cardoso Pimenta1 Meylin Bautista Gutierrez1 Maria Ogrzewalska2 Ricardo Moratelli3 Roberto Leonan Morim Novaes3 Marina Carvalho Furtado3,4 Sócrates Fraga Costa-Neto3 Juliana da Silva Ribeiro de Andrade1 Tulio Machado Fumian1 José Paulo Gagliardi Leite1 Johan Nordgren5 Marcia Terezinha Baroni de Moraes1 Marina Galvão Bueno6
Affiliations 6 institutions
  1. Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology (LVCA), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
  2. Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses, Exanthematics, Enteroviuses and Viral Emergencies (LVRE), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
  3. Fiocruz Mata Atlântica, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
  4. Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
  5. Linköping University, Linköping, 581 85, Sweden.
  6. Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology (LVCA), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. [email protected].
PMID42848036 DOI10.1007/s00705-026-06727-w Year2026 Journal Archives of virology Arch Virol Languageeng Publication statusActive
Active Last checked 2026-10-09 03:30:36 Source: NCBI PubMed

Abstract

Cross-species transmission occurs in rotaviruses, and human infection by animal strains is possible. We investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of Rotavirus A (RVA) in bats from urban Atlantic Forest remnants under intense anthropogenic pressure in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bats were captured between September 2020 and March 2022, totaling 240 samples (rectal swabs and feces) from 16 species. The RVA infection rate was 1.25% (3/240; Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata) using RT-qPCR targeting the NSP3 gene. A complete genomic constellation was attempted for positive samples. Phylogenetic analyses were performed, and homology-based three-dimensional modeling was applied to proteins encoded by genes showing low similarity to GenBank sequences. Partial VP4 sequences were successfully obtained from all three RVA-positive samples. Molecular characterization identified distinct genotypes: Gx-P[26]-I5, G20-P[unclassified*]-I13-T15, and G20-P[unclassified*]-I13-R13-C13-M12-A23-N13-T15-Ex-H15. The latter two harbored a putative novel VP4 genotype (P[unclassified*]) with <75% nucleotide identity to known genotypes and formed a distinct, well-supported phylogenetic clade. The Gx-P[26]-I5 strain showed highest identity to porcine RVA strains, representing the first detection of VP4 genotype P[26] in bats. Except for VP4, both G20P[unclassified*] strains were most closely related to a human G20P[28] strain from Suriname, suggesting a shared genomic constellation and possible reassortment between bat and human viruses. 3D structural analyses revealed conserved VP4 conformation among animal and human strains, suggesting structural compatibility across host species. These findings highlight bats as reservoirs of diverse RVA lineages and their role in viral evolution, reassortment, and zoonotic emergence, reinforcing the need for continuous One Health surveillance.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Chiroptera 381 Interspecies transmission 55 Novel genotype 2 Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis 1 Surveillance 66 Capsid Proteins 22 Chiroptera 376 Rotavirus 66 Rotavirus Infections 62 Animals 1981 Brazil 52 Feces 117 Forests 13 Genetic Variation 131 Genome, Viral 324 Genotype 142 Humans 1455 Phylogeny 826 VP4 protein, Rotavirus 6

Evidence records

5 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
2 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE12318 Viral Detection
Key finding

Rotavirus A RNA was detected in bats with 1.25% positivity (3/240) by RT-qPCR targeting NSP3 from rectal swab/feces samples.

Virus
Rotavirus A
Host
bats Chiroptera Natural host Artibeus lituratus Natural host Seba's short-tailed bat Carollia perspicillata Natural host
Location
urban Atlantic Forest remnants Brazil
Supporting text

We investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of Rotavirus A (RVA) in bats from urban Atlantic Forest remnants under intense anthropogenic pressure in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The RVA infection rate was 1.25% (3/240; Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata) using RT-qPCR targeting the NSP3 gene.

Method
RT-qPCR targeting the NSP3 gene | phylogenetic analyses | partial VP4 sequencing
Sample type
rectal swabs | feces
Geographic raw
urban Atlantic Forest remnants | metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Country inferred
BRA
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE12322 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Bats are highlighted as reservoirs of diverse Rotavirus A (RVA) lineages with roles in viral evolution, reassortment, and zoonotic emergence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Virus
Rotavirus A
Host
bats Chiroptera Natural host
Location
Brazil
Supporting text

We investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of Rotavirus A (RVA) in bats from urban Atlantic Forest remnants under intense anthropogenic pressure in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These findings highlight bats as reservoirs of diverse RVA lineages and their role in viral evolution, reassortment, and zoonotic emergence, reinforcing the need for continuous One Health surveillance.

Method
RT-qPCR targeting the NSP3 gene | phylogenetic analyses | homology-based three-dimensional modeling | molecular characterization of VP4 and genomic constellations
Sample type
rectal swabs | feces
Geographic raw
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Country inferred
BRA
Genomic Evolution
3 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Recombination or Reassortment
1 records
OVE12321 Recombination or Reassortment
Key finding

Bat RVA strains G20P[unclassified*] share a genomic constellation with a human G20P[28] strain except for VP4, indicating possible reassortment between bat and human rotaviruses.

Virus
G20P[unclassified*] G20P[28]
Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Except for VP4, both G20P[unclassified*] strains were most closely related to a human G20P[28] strain from Suriname, suggesting a shared genomic constellation and possible reassortment between bat and human viruses.

Event type
reassortment
Genes or segments
VP4
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
2 records
OVE12319 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Two bat RVA strains carry a putative novel VP4 genotype (P[unclassified*]) that shares <75% nucleotide identity with known genotypes and forms a distinct, well-supported phylogenetic clade.

Virus
Rotavirus A VP4 genotype P[unclassified*]
Host
bats Chiroptera Natural host Artibeus lituratus Natural host Seba's short-tailed bat Carollia perspicillata Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

The latter two harbored a putative novel VP4 genotype (P[unclassified*]) with <75% nucleotide identity to known genotypes and formed a distinct, well-supported phylogenetic clade.

Genes or proteins
VP4
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analyses | nucleotide identity comparison
OVE12320 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

A bat RVA strain with VP4 genotype P[26] showed highest sequence identity to porcine RVA strains, representing the first detection of P[26] in bats.

Virus
Rotavirus A VP4 genotype P[26]
Host
bats Chiroptera Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

The Gx-P[26]-I5 strain showed highest identity to porcine RVA strains, representing the first detection of VP4 genotype P[26] in bats.

Genes or proteins
VP4
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analyses | sequence identity comparison