The risk from SARS‐CoV‐2 to bat species in england and mitigation options for conservation field workers

Abstract

The newly evolved coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, which has precipitated a global COVID‐19 pandemic among the human population, has been shown to be associated with disease in captive wild animals. Bats (Chiroptera) have been shown to be susceptible to experimental infection and therefore may be at risk from disease when in contact with infected people. Numerous conservation fieldwork activities are undertaken across the United Kingdom bringing potentially infected people into close proximity with bats. In this study, we analysed the risks of disease from SARS‐CoV‐2 to free‐living bat species in England through fieldworkers undertaking conservation activities and ecological survey work, using a qualitative, transparent method devised for assessing threats of disease to free‐living wild animals. The probability of exposure of bats to SARS‐CoV‐2 through fieldwork activities was estimated to range from negligible to high, depending on the proximity between bats and people during the activity. The likelihood of infection after exposure was estimated to be high and the probability of dissemination of the virus through bat populations medium. The likelihood of clinical disease occurring in infected bats was low, and therefore, the ecological, economic and environmental consequences were predicted to be low. The overall risk estimation was low, and therefore, mitigation measures are advisable. There is uncertainty in the pathogenicity of SARS‐CoV‐2 in bats and therefore in the risk estimation. Disease risk management measures are suggested, including the use of personal protective equipment, good hand hygiene and following the existing government advice. The disease risk analysis should be updated as information on the epidemiology of SARS‐CoV‐2 and related viruses in bats improves. The re‐analysis may be informed by health surveillance of free‐living bats.

Optimising predictive models to prioritise viral discovery in zoonotic reservoirs

“…For example, North American bats are threatened by an emerging disease, white-nose syndrome, 89 which has documented synzootic interactions with other bat coronaviruses; 90 at least seven North American bat species that can be infected by the fungal pathogen ( Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis ciliolabrum, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis velifer, Myotis volans , and Tadarida brasiliensis ) are among the 412 bat species that we predicted could be undiscovered betacoronavirus hosts. Although our predictions do not imply bat susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 specifically (and experimental infections of E fuscus have been unsuccessful 91 ), efforts to minimise the risks of SARS-CoV-2 spillback into novel bat reservoirs, 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 as well as to understand the dynamics of other bat coronaviruses, will both reduce zoonotic risk and help to understand and counteract disease-related population declines. Similarly, conservationists have expressed concern that the negative framing of bats as the source of SARS-CoV-2 has affected public and governmental attitudes toward bat conservation; 97 this can fuel negative responses, including indiscriminate culling (ie, the reduction of populations by slaughter), which has already occurred in response to COVID-19 even outside of Asia (where a spillover probably occurred).…”

Metagenomic identification of a new sarbecovirus from horseshoe bats in Europe

“…In Europe, unlike in Asia, direct contact between people and bats most commonly occurs when the animals are captured by bat researchers or when sick animals are taken in by bat rescuers and wildlife rehabilitation centres. While the risk of reverse spill over of SARS-CoV-2 from researchers to bats and onward spread within bat populations has been shown to be medium to high 55 , it is the caring of sick or injured bats, in particular, that provides most opportunity for long-term close contact and virus transfer in either direction. Although the IUCN Bat Specialist Group has produced guidelines to minimise this risk 56 , the degree to which these are known or followed is unclear.…”

Optimizing predictive models to prioritize viral discovery in zoonotic reservoirs

“…For example, North American bats are threatened by an emerging disease, white-nose syndrome 88 , which has documented synzootic interactions with other bat coronaviruses 89 ; at least seven North American bat species that can be infected by the fungal pathogen (Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis ciliolabrum, M. lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, M. velifer, M. volans, and Tadarida brasiliensis) are among the 423 bat species we predict could be undiscovered betacoronavirus hosts. Although our predictions do not imply bat susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 specifically (and experimental infections of E. fuscus have been unsuccessful 90 ), efforts to minimize risks of SARS-CoV-2 "spillback" into novel bat reservoirs [91][92][93][94][95] , as well as to understand the dynamics of other bat coronaviruses, will both reduce zoonotic risk and help understand and counteract disease-related population declines. Similarly, conservationists have expressed concern that negative framing of bats as the source of SARS-CoV-2 has impacted public and governmental attitudes toward bat conservation 96 ; this can fuel negative responses, including indiscriminate culling (i.e., reduction of populations by slaughter), which has already occured in response to COVID-19 even outside of Asia (where spillover likely occurred) 97 .…”