First detection of Coronavirus in bats in Vojvodina province, Serbia
Прва детекција коронавируса код слепих мишева у Војводини, Србија
2019
Authors:
Lupulović, DianaPaunović, Milan
Budinski, Ivana
Petrović, Tamaš
Karapandža, Branko
Bajić, Branka
Lazić, Sava
Samojlović, Milena
Lazić, Gospava
Contributors
Petrović, TamašDocument Type:
Conference object (Published version)
,
© 2019 by the Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
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.
Keywords:
Coronavirus; Bats; Molecular detection; Vojvodina ProvinceIn:
- Petrović T, editor. XXI Simpozijum epizootiologa i epidemiologa: XXI Epizootiološki dani: Book of abstracts; 2019 Apr 8-10; Novi Sad, Serbia. Belgrade: Serbian Veterinary Society, Section for Zoonoses; 2019. p. 78-9.