Detection of diverse astroviruses from bats in China.
Astroviruses infect humans and many different animal species and are associated with gastroenteritis. Recent studies first detected the virus from bat species in Hong Kong. To understand astrovirus distribution in the wider region further, we examined the prevalence of this virus family in bat specimens collected from a large geographical region of mainland China. We collected 500 anal swabs from 20 bat species in 51 natural habitats from 11 provinces of China and tested these for astroviruses. Our study revealed a remarkably high genetic diversity of astroviruses; five monophyletic groups were identified in bats, including two novel groups. Evidence for varying degrees of host restriction for astroviruses from bats has been found. Phylogenetic analyses also provided insight into the inter-species transmission of Mamastrovirus.
Zhu
Hua Chen
HC
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Chu
Daniel K W
DKW
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Liu
Wei
W
Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning 530021, PR China.
Dong
Bai Qing
BQ
Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning 530021, PR China.
Zhang
Shu Yi
SY
East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China.
Zhang
Jin Xia
JX
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Li
Li Feng
LF
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Vijaykrishna
Dhanasekaran
D
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Smith
Gavin J D
GJD
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Chen
Hong Lin
HL
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Poon
Leo L M
LLM
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Peiris
J S Malik
JSM
HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Hong Kong SAR.|State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
Guan
Yi
Y
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
D000818:Animals; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity