Researchers identified over 60% of bats in Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture carrying multiple zoonotic viruses, including 10 novel herpesviruses, highlighting rapid viral evolution and migration risks.
By Hugo Francisco de SouzaReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Sep 26 2024 Research ers discover a startling diversity of viruses in Japanese bats, with over 60% infected, including novel strains, highlighting the urgent need for viral surveillance to prevent future pandemics.
Over 60% infection rate: The study revealed that more than 60% of bats sampled were infected with at least one viral strain, with 36% showing multiple infections, highlighting the high prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in Japanese bats. Background Bats are speciose and highly successful members of the order Chiroptera, representing at least 20% of all known mammalian species. Unlike other mammals, bats are capable of true flight, with some species known to embark on seasonal migrations of hundreds of miles. These fascinating animals are almost ubiquitous in their distribution, found on every major landmass except the Arctic and Antarctic zones.
While bats in China and the Western world have been the subject of extensive research, Japanese bats have been comparatively ignored. Hitherto, the limited number of bat-derived virus investigations have only revealed 109 strains from the country, a probable severe underestimate of these viral carriers' true pathogenic potential and diversity.
Similarly, RNA was extracted and amplified using reverse transcription -PCR followed by nested or semi-nested PCR to identify RNA viruses. While 178 samples were screened for the presence of calicivirus, paramyxovirus, flavivirus, and rotavirus, all were negative for these pathogens.
Coronavirus DNA Genetic Pandemic Research RNA Software Virus
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