Abstract
We tested 315 bats from 7 different bat species in northern Germany for coronaviruses by reverse transcription-PCR. The overall prevalence was 9.8%. There were 4 lineages of group I coronaviruses in association with 4 different species of verspertilionid bats (Myotis dasycneme, M. daubentonii, Pipistrellus nathusii, P. pygmaeus). The lineages formed a monophyletic clade of bat coronaviruses found in northern Germany. The clade of bat coronaviruses have a sister relationship with a clade of Chinese type I coronaviruses that were also associated with the Myotis genus (M. ricketti). Young age and ongoing lactation, but not sex or existing gravidity, correlated significantly with coronavirus detection. The virus is probably maintained on the population level by amplification and transmission in maternity colonies, rather than being maintained in individual bats.
Highlights
We tested 315 bats from 7 different bat species in northern Germany for coronaviruses by reverse transcription–PCR
Together with our recent observation of anti-coronavirus antibodies in African bats [27], this finding suggests that the area of distribution of bat coronaviruses may be considerably larger than currently known
Bat species were typed by morphologic criteria by experienced bat biologists who had worked in the habitat for several years
Summary
We tested 315 bats from 7 different bat species in northern Germany for coronaviruses by reverse transcription–PCR. There were 4 lineages of group I coronaviruses in association with 4 different species of verspertilionid bats (Myotis dasycneme, M. daubentonii, Pipistrellus nathusii, P. pygmaeus). Most bat species regularly use buildings, such as bridges, cellars, mines, wells, and houses, as roosting sites. For this reason, they have contact with humans, possibly enabling virus transmission. Some recent studies indicate that the same coronavirus may be carried by members of the same species of bats in distant locations. Outside China, a very recent study described sequences from group I coronavirus in 2 different North American bat species, Myotis occultus and Eptesicus fuscus [26]. From the locations of capture and physical characteristics of bats (age, sex, lactation, gravidity), implications on transmission and maintenance of bat coronaviruses could be drawn in this study
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