First detection of Coronavirus in bats in Vojvodina province, Serbia

• Main Authors: Lupulović, Diana, Paunović, Milan, Budinski, Ivana, Petrović, Tamaš, Karapandža, Branko, Bajić, Branka, Lazić, Sava, Samojlović, Milena, Lazić, Gospava
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English; srp
• Published: Belgrade: Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses 2019
• Subjects: Coronavirus; Bats; Molecular detection; Vojvodina Province; Myotis nattereri
• Online Access: https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4271; https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/bitstream/id/16755/abstract.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4271

Different bat species are recognized as a reservoir for several emerging viruses, including Coronaviruses (CoVs) that were responsible for serious human disease outbreaks during the 21st century, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This study describes molecular analysis of coronaviruses in bats in Vojvodina Province, in the northern part of Serbia. In total, 64 fecal samples were collected from animals during 2016 and 2017 from 4 different locations within municipalities of Novi Sad, Kovin and Vršac (one location in Novi Sad and Kovin and two locations in Vršac). Among 14 analysed bat species, CoV was identified in 3 species (Myotis nattereri, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersii). CoV was detected by RT-PCR in 29.68% (19/64) tested fecal samples. The highest number of virus positive samples was identified in the municipality of Kovin (13/23, 56.52%), followed by one location in Vršac (4/13, 30.76%) and Novi Sad (2/10, 20%), while no positive bat feces was detected in the second location in Vršac. All tested animals were apparently healthy and in good condition. The obtained results, as to our knowledge, represent the first detection of coronavirus in bats in Vojvodina Province and give a contribution to better understanding of biodiversity and ecology of these mammals. Although is known that bats can serve as a potential source of emerging viral pathogens, for the bat species that has been identified in Serbia so far are not known to be associated to any occurrence of human diseases in Serbia. Further studies should be conducted to improve the knowledge about phylogenetic characterization of coronaviruses, as well as other viruses in bat population in Serbia. Различите врсте слепих мишева препознате су као резервоар неколико нових емергентних вируса, укључујући коронавирусе (CoVs) који су одговорни за настанак озбиљних епидемија код људи током 21. века, као што су Тешки акутни респираторни коронавирус ...