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. 2020 Mar;17(1):152-159.
doi: 10.1007/s10393-019-01458-8. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Coronaviruses Detected in Bats in Close Contact with Humans in Rwanda

Julius Nziza  1 , Tracey Goldstein  2 , Mike Cranfield  3 , Paul Webala  4 , Olivier Nsengimana  5 , Thierry Nyatanyi  6 , Antoine Mudakikwa  7 , Alexandre Tremeau-Bravard  2 , Dennis Byarugaba  8 , Jean Claude Tumushime  3 , Ivan Emil Mwikarago  9 , Isidore Gafarasi  10 , Jonna Mazet  3   2 , Kirsten Gilardi  3   2
Affiliations

Coronaviruses Detected in Bats in Close Contact with Humans in Rwanda

Julius Nziza et al. Ecohealth. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Bats living in close contact with people in Rwanda were tested for evidence of infection with viruses of zoonotic potential. Mucosal swabs from 503 bats representing 17 species were sampled from 2010 to 2014 and screened by consensus PCR for 11 viral families. Samples were negative for all viral families except coronaviruses, which were detected in 27 bats belonging to eight species. Known coronaviruses detected included the betacorona viruses: Kenya bat coronaviruses, Eidolon bat coronavirus, and Bat coronavirus HKU9, as well as an alphacoronavirus, Chaerephon Bat coronavirus. Novel coronaviruses included two betacorona viruses clustering with SARS-CoV, a 2d coronavirus, and an alphacoronavirus.

Keywords: Bats; Coronaviruses; Human–wildlife interfaces; Rwanda.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coronaviruses phylogenetic analysis performed in Anthony et al. (2017b). Sequences are collapsed into clades, representing operating taxonomic units (sequences sharing equal or more than 90%). The sequences included in this manuscript are indicated in the boxes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Map of Rwanda showing the bats sampling sites for corona viral surveillance during the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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