Alphacoronavirus Detection in Lungs, Liver, and Intestines of Bats from Brazil

Author(s)

Bittar, Cintia ^[1] ; Guaragna Machado, Rafael Rahal ^[1] ; Comelis, Manuela Tosi ^[1] ; Bueno, Larissa Mayumi ^[1] ; Beguelini, Mateus Rodrigues ^{[2, 1]} ; Morielle-Versute, Eliana ^[1] ; Nogueira, Mauricio Lacerda ^[3] ; Rahal, Paula ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho UN, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas IBILCE, Campus Sao Jose do Rio Preto, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] UFOB, CCBS, Rua Prof Jose Seabra de Lemos 316, BR-47808021 Barreiras, BA - Brazil

^[3] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto FAMERP, Ave Brigadeiro Faria Lima 5416, BR-15090000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROBIAL ECOLOGY; v. 79, n. 1, p. 203-212, JAN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Bats are flying mammals distributed worldwide known to host several types of Coronavirus (CoV). Since they were reported as the probable source of spillover of highly pathogenic CoV into the human population, investigating the circulation of this virus in bats around the world became of great importance. We analyzed samples from 103 bats from two distinct regions in Brazil. Coronavirus from the Alphacoronavirus genus was detected in 12 animals, 11 from Sao Jose do Rio Preto-SP region and 1 from Barreiras-BA region, resulting in a prevalence of 17.18% and 2.56% respectively. The virus was detected not only in intestines but also in lungs and liver. Phylogenetic analysis based on nsP12 genomic region suggests that the sequences group according to host family and sampling location. Studies on the circulation of these viruses in bats remain important to understand the ecology and evolutionary relationship of these pathogens. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/09704-6 - Investigation of arbovirus in Chiroptera
• Grantee: Rafael Rahal Guaragna Machado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation