Detection of a virus related to betacoronaviruses in Italian greater horseshoe bats.
The association between coronaviruses and bats is a worldwide phenomenon and bats belonging to genus Rhinolophus are the reservoir host for several coronaviruses, including a large number of viruses closely related genetically to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We carried out a survey in colonies of Italian bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) for the presence of coronaviruses. Two of 52 R. ferrumequinum captured from different Italian areas tested positive by reverse transcription-PCR for a fragment of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of viruses related to Coronavirus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close correlations between one of the positive samples and SARS-related CoV belonging to the genus Betacoronavirus.
Balboni
A
A
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Palladini
A
A
Bogliani
G
G
Battilani
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny