Abstract

Bats harbour a diverse array of viruses, including significant human pathogens. Extensive metagenomic studies of material from bats, in particular guano, have revealed a large number of novel or divergent viral taxa that were previously unknown. New Zealand has only two extant indigenous terrestrial mammals, which are both bats, Mystacina tuberculata (the lesser short-tailed bat) and Chalinolobus tuberculatus (the long-tailed bat). Until the human introduction of exotic mammals, these species had been isolated from all other terrestrial mammals for over 1 million years (potentially over 16 million years for M. tuberculata). Four bat guano samples were collected from M. tuberculata roosts on the isolated offshore island of Whenua hou (Codfish Island) in New Zealand. Metagenomic analysis revealed that this species still hosts a plethora of divergent viruses. Whilst the majority of viruses detected were likely to be of dietary origin, some putative vertebrate virus sequences were identified. Papillomavirus, polyomavirus, calicivirus and hepevirus were found in the metagenomic data and subsequently confirmed using independent PCR assays and sequencing. The new hepevirus and calicivirus sequences may represent new genera within these viral families. Our findings may provide an insight into the origins of viral families, given their detection in an isolated host species.

Highlights

  • Bats are the second most diverse group of mammals with over 1200 species, accounting for more than 20 % of mammals (Simmons, 2005)

  • Less than 2 % of all virus sequence reads showed similarity to vertebrate viruses, with significant RAPSearch2 matches to conserved gene regions used for taxonomic assignment of papillomavirus, picornavirus, polyomavirus, calicivirus and hepevirus

  • This study provides the first report of the virus diversity in the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, M. tuberculata

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Summary

Introduction

Bats (order Chiroptera) are the second most diverse group of mammals with over 1200 species, accounting for more than 20 % of mammals (Simmons, 2005). They occur throughout most of the world except for the two polar regions. It has become increasingly apparent that bats are important natural reservoirs for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses, due at least in part to roosting habitats, the formation of large colonies, adaptive immune systems, a long life span, and long-distance flying capability (Calisher et al, 2006; Luis et al, 2013). Many zoonotic viruses that have emerged recently are thought to have their origins in bats.

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