Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds, and have caused significant epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bats, the second most diverse mammalian order, are hosts for various CoVs due to their unique immune responses an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/3/434 |
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| author | Mahima Hemnani Priscilla Gomes da Silva Gertrude Thompson Patrícia Poeta Hugo Rebelo João R. Mesquita |
| author_facet | Mahima Hemnani Priscilla Gomes da Silva Gertrude Thompson Patrícia Poeta Hugo Rebelo João R. Mesquita |
| author_sort | Mahima Hemnani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds, and have caused significant epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bats, the second most diverse mammalian order, are hosts for various CoVs due to their unique immune responses and ecological traits. This study investigates CoV prevalence in crevice- and tree-dwelling bats in Portugal, a country with limited prior research on bat CoVs. Using nested RT-PCR and sequencing, we screened 87 stool samples from bats, identifying one sample (1.15%) that was positive for <i>Alphacoronavirus</i>, belonging to <i>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</i>. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships with <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> strains from the same bat species in Europe. The low prevalence suggests habitat-specific differences in viral transmission, with cave-dwelling bats exhibiting higher CoV prevalence due to population density and behaviour. These findings underscore the necessity for sustained surveillance efforts aimed at comprehending CoV dynamics within bat populations, especially concerning the risk of spillover events and viral evolution. Vital to this understanding is the monitoring of bat migration patterns, which serves as a crucial tool for elucidating CoV ecology and epidemiology. Such efforts are essential for ongoing research endeavours aimed at mitigating the potential for future zoonotic disease outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:46:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa1024597f624f57883396cf6de55add |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:46:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa1024597f624f57883396cf6de55add2024-03-27T14:07:52ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-03-0116343410.3390/v16030434Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from PortugalMahima Hemnani0Priscilla Gomes da Silva1Gertrude Thompson2Patrícia Poeta3Hugo Rebelo4João R. Mesquita5School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalMicrobiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalBiopolis-CIBIO/InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalCoronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds, and have caused significant epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bats, the second most diverse mammalian order, are hosts for various CoVs due to their unique immune responses and ecological traits. This study investigates CoV prevalence in crevice- and tree-dwelling bats in Portugal, a country with limited prior research on bat CoVs. Using nested RT-PCR and sequencing, we screened 87 stool samples from bats, identifying one sample (1.15%) that was positive for <i>Alphacoronavirus</i>, belonging to <i>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</i>. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships with <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> strains from the same bat species in Europe. The low prevalence suggests habitat-specific differences in viral transmission, with cave-dwelling bats exhibiting higher CoV prevalence due to population density and behaviour. These findings underscore the necessity for sustained surveillance efforts aimed at comprehending CoV dynamics within bat populations, especially concerning the risk of spillover events and viral evolution. Vital to this understanding is the monitoring of bat migration patterns, which serves as a crucial tool for elucidating CoV ecology and epidemiology. Such efforts are essential for ongoing research endeavours aimed at mitigating the potential for future zoonotic disease outbreaks.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/3/434coronaviruses<i>Alphacoronavirus</i><i>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Mahima Hemnani Priscilla Gomes da Silva Gertrude Thompson Patrícia Poeta Hugo Rebelo João R. Mesquita Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal Viruses coronaviruses <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> <i>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</i> |
| title | Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal |
| title_full | Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal |
| title_short | Presence of <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal |
| title_sort | presence of i alphacoronavirus i in tree and crevice dwelling bats from portugal |
| topic | coronaviruses <i>Alphacoronavirus</i> <i>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/3/434 |
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