Permanent Link:

https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0069663/00001

Material Information

Title:

Coronavirus Infection and Diversity in Bats in the Australasian Region

Series Title:

EcoHealth

Creator:

Smith, C. S.
de Jong, C. E.
Meers, J.
Henning, J.
Wang, L- F.
Field, H. E.

Publication Date:

2016-04-05

Language:

English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:

Coronavirus Infection ( local )
Diversity ( local )
Bats ( local )
Australasian Region ( local )

Genre:

serial ( sobekcm )

Notes

Abstract:

Following the SARS outbreak, extensive surveillance was undertaken globally to detect and identify coronavirus diversity in bats. This study sought to identify the diversity and prevalence of coronaviruses in bats in the Australasian region. We identified four different genotypes of coronavirus, three of which (an alphacoronavirus and two betacoronaviruses) are potentially new species, having less than 90% nucleotide sequence identity with the most closely related described viruses. We did not detect any SARS-like betacoronaviruses, despite targeting rhinolophid bats, the putative natural host taxa. Our findings support the virus-host co-evolution hypothesis, with the detection of Miniopterus bat coronavirus HKU8 (previously reported in Miniopterus species in China, Hong Kong and Bulgaria) in Australian Miniopterus species. Similarly, we detected a novel betacoronavirus genotype from Pteropus alecto which is most closely related to Bat coronavirus HKU9 identified in other pteropodid bats in China, Kenya and the Philippines. We also detected possible cross-species transmission of bat coronaviruses, and the apparent enteric tropism of these viruses. Thus, our findings are consistent with a scenario wherein the current diversity and host specificity of coronaviruses reflects co-evolution with the occasional host shift.

Original Version:

EcoHealth, Vol. 13 (2016-04-05).

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of South Florida Library

Holding Location:

University of South Florida

Rights Management:

This object is protected by copyright, and is made available here for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

USFLDC Membership

Aggregations:

University of South Florida
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Postcard Information

Format:

serial