New study reveals bats are key players in cross-species spread of morbilliviruses
Bats in the tropics of the Americas are a reservoir for morbilliviruses—a genus of RNA viruses that includes the human measles virus. However, their role in spreading morbilliviruses to other mammalian species is unclear. An international team of researchers led by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Center for Infection Research has now studied the spread of morbilliviruses in bats and monkeys in Brazil and Costa Rica and discovered new virus species and host switches from bats to other mammalian species. The scientists call for increased surveillance and experimental risk assessments of reservoir-bound morbilliviruses. The study was published in Nature Microbiology on May 27, 2025.
#Monitoring of #Astroviruses, #Brno - #Hantaviruses, #Coronaviruses, #Influenza Viruses, #Bornaviruses, #Morbilliviruses, #Lyssaviruses and #Pestiviruses in Austrian #Bats https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/8/1232
Using RT-qPCR, 36 samples revealed + or susp. results for astroviruses, Brno-hantaviruses, & CoVs in 9 bat species. Sequencing revealed correspondent sequences in 5 samples. In contrast, none of tested samples was positive for flu A/C/D, bornaviruses, morbilliviruses, lyssaviruses, or pestiviruses.
Monitoring of Astroviruses, Brno-Hantaviruses, Coronaviruses, Influenza Viruses, Bornaviruses, Morbilliviruses, Lyssaviruses and Pestiviruses in Austrian Bats
Here, we report the results of a monitoring study of bat viruses in Austria to strengthen the knowledge of circulating viruses in Austrian bat populations. In this study, we analyzed 618 oropharyngeal and rectal swab samples from 309 bats and 155 pooled tissue samples from dead bats. Samples were collected from 18 different bat species from multiple locations in Austria, from November 2015 to April 2018, and examined for astroviruses, bornaviruses, coronaviruses, hantaviruses, morbilliviruses, orthomyxoviruses (influenza A/C/D viruses), pestiviruses and rhabdoviruses (lyssaviruses) using molecular techniques and sequencing. Using RT-qPCR, 36 samples revealed positive or suspicious results for astroviruses, Brno-hantaviruses, and coronaviruses in nine different bat species. Further sequencing revealed correspondent sequences in five samples. In contrast, none of the tested samples was positive for influenza viruses A/C/D, bornaviruses, morbilliviruses, lyssaviruses, or pestiviruses.
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Giuseppe Michieli