Detection of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome‐Related Coronavirus and Alphacoronavirus in the Bat Population of Taiwan

Abstract

Bats have been demonstrated to be natural reservoirs of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) CoV. Faecal samples from 248 individuals of 20 bat species were tested for partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of CoV and 57 faecal samples from eight bat species were tested positive. The highest detection rate of 44% for Scotophilus kuhlii, followed by 30% for Rhinolophus monoceros. Significantly higher detection rates of coronaviral RNA were found in female bats and Scotophilus kuhlii roosting in palm trees. Phylogenetic analysis classified the positive samples into SARS-related (SARSr) CoV, Scotophilus bat CoV 512 close to those from China and Philippines, and Miniopterus bat CoV 1A-related lineages. Coronaviral RNA was also detected in bat guano from Scotophilus kuhlii and Myotis formosus flavus on the ground and had potential risk for human exposure. Diverse bat CoV with zoonotic potential could be introduced by migratory bats and maintained in the endemic bat population in Taiwan.

Novel coronaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses and circoviruses in insectivorous bats from northern China

“…Notably, this may be of public health concern, as both species are in close proximity to human beings: Fringed long‐footed Myotis ( M. fimbriatus ) was collected from a city sewer, and Common Serotine ( E. serotinus ) was captured from rural homes. Despite previous reports of SARS‐like coronaviruses in Rhinolophus bats in China (Chen et al., ; He et al., ; Li et al., ), no SARS‐like coronaviruses were detected in Rhinolophus bats in this study, which may be due to the limited sample size of Rhinolophus bats.…”

Encephalomyocarditis virus is potentially derived from eastern bent-wing bats living in East Asian countries

“…During 2016-2017, a putative new lyssavirus was found in the Japanese pipistrelle bat in the same country (Hu et al, 2018). SARS-related coronavirus and Alphacoronavirus were also detected in the country's bat population (Chen et al, 2016). To obtain more information on bat-derived pathogenic viruses in East Asia, this study aimed to determine the viruses present in fecal guano of Taiwanese insectivorous bats caves.…”

Entry of Scotophilus Bat Coronavirus-512 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Human and Multiple Animal Cells

“…Both MERS-CoV and bat CoV-HKU4 can use bat and human DPP4 to infect cells originating from humans, camels, bats, and other animal species [12,13] and HCoV-NL63 can replicate in the lung cell line from tricolored bats [8].Little information is available regarding cross-species events for animal CoVs. A previous study detected Scotophilus bat CoV-512 in four different bat species along with Miniopterus bat CoV-1A and Rhinolophus SARS-related CoV in Taiwan through the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) [14]. Antibodies specific to the nucleocapsid (N) protein fragments of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 were detected in serum collected from three bat species, namely Scotophilus kuhlii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Rhinolophus monoceros [15].…”

“…Antibodies specific to the nucleocapsid (N) protein fragments of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 were detected in serum collected from three bat species, namely Scotophilus kuhlii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Rhinolophus monoceros [15]. A close relationship and possible gene recombinants between Scotophilus bat CoV-512 and PEDV were observed through sequence alignments [14,16]. The results of the cell entry assay also indicated that PEDV can infect cells originating from pigs (PK15 and ST), humans (Huh-7 and MRC5), monkeys (Vero) and Tadarida brasiliensis bats (Tb1-Lu) [17].…”

“…We selected Scotophilus bat CoV-512 as our study target because it demonstrates the potential of cross-species infection and may play a role in the emergence or transmission of PEDV. Both molecular and serological evidences proved that Scotophilus bat CoV-512 can infect multiple animal species [14,15]. To investigate host tropisms contributing to cross-species transmission of Scotophilus bat CoV-512, we produced a pseudovirus bearing the full-length spike (S) protein of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 in the envelope (Env) protein-defective, red fluorescence protein (RFP)-expression or luciferase (FLuc)-expression human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) backbone for performing a cell entry assay in 11 different cells from humans, bats, dogs, cats, pigs, rats, and monkeys.…”