Abstract

Bats are considered reservoirs of severe emerging human pathogens. Notably, bats host major mammalian paramyxoviruses from the family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales. In this study, paramyxoviruses were investigated by reverse transcription semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-semi-nested PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), based on the RT-semi-nested PCR using the consensus paramyxovirus primers targeting the RNA dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) region. In addition, RT-PCR was performed using newly designed primers targeting regions of the fusion protein (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN). The dominant bat species in the collection site of paramyxoviruses were Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis macrodactylus, Myotis petax, and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Paramyxoviruses were detected in four samples in 2016 and six in 2019. Meanwhile, in samples collected in 2017 and 2018, no paramyxoviruses were detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial nucleotide sequences of RdRp, F, and HN proteins suggested that the viruses belonged to the proposed genus Shaanvirus. In conclusion, this study revealed that bat paramyxoviruses in Korea belonged to a single genus and circulated sporadically in several provinces, including Chungbuk, Gangwon, Jeju, and Jeonnam.

Highlights

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and the Ebola virus are all thought to be bat-borne viruses

  • 473 samples were tested for the presence of paramyxovirus by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of an RNA dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) gene fragment

  • Paramyxoviruses were detected in 2.1% (10/473) of samples obtained from the bat natural habitats in 85 sites

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and the Ebola virus are all thought to be bat-borne viruses. The recent acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is suspected as a bat-borne virus [1]. These bat-borne viruses are primarily transmitted to humans via intermediate host animals. Nipah virus transmission from bat to human via date palm sap contaminated with urine from infected bats was identified [5,6]. Serological evidence of possible human infection by the Tioman virus belonging to the paramyxovirus enhances the role of bats in the epidemiologic role of pathogens [8]

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call