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. 2021 Jan 18;104(3):1106-1110.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0872.

Identification of Coronaviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Reoviruses, and Rotaviruses among Bats in Nigeria

Grace S N Kia  1 , Ying Tao  2 , Jarlath U Umoh  3 , Jacob K P Kwaga  1 , Suxiang Tong  2
Affiliations

Identification of Coronaviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Reoviruses, and Rotaviruses among Bats in Nigeria

Grace S N Kia et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. .

Abstract

Bats are often consumed by some ethnic groups in Nigeria despite association of bats with many important emerging viruses. More than 300 bats representing eight species were captured during 2010-2011 in eight locations of northern Nigeria. Available fecal swabs (n = 95) were screened for the presence of arenaviruses, CoVs, paramyxoviruses (PMVs), reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, and influenza viruses using generic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. Here, we document the detection of CoVs, PMVs, reoviruses, and rotaviruses (RVs) in Nigerian bats. The Nigerian bat CoVs are grouped within other bat SARS-CoV-like viruses identified from Ghana in a sister clade next to the human SARS-CoV clade. The phylogenetic analysis indicated a broad range of RVs present in Nigerian bats, some cluster with human RVs and some represent novel species. Our study adds that continuing global surveillance for viruses in bats to understand their origin, adaptation, and evolution is important to prevent and control future zoonotic disease outbreaks.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial support: The study was supported in part by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETF/DESS/AST&D/UNIV/ABU/ZARIA/VOL.2 (G. S. N. K.) and Science and Technology Education Post Basic (STEP-B) Project, Innovators of Tomorrow Grants HME STEP-B/IOT/33/Vol.1/22 (G. S. N. K.).

Disclaimers: The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Phylogenetic analysis of bat betacoronavirus (A) and bat rotavirus (RV) (B) from Nigeria. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method available PhyML version 3.0 assuming a general time-reversible model with a discrete gamma distributed rate variation among sites (G4) and a subtree prunning and regrafting tree swapping algorithm. The seven Nigeria bat betacoronaviruses and 15 bat RVs are highlighted with solid circles. The betacoronavirus subgroup and RV species information is shown to the right side of the phylogeny. The maximum likelihood bootstrap is indicated next to the nodes. The scale bar indicates the estimated number of nucleotide substitutions per site.
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Phylogenetic analysis of bat betacoronavirus (A) and bat rotavirus (RV) (B) from Nigeria. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method available PhyML version 3.0 assuming a general time-reversible model with a discrete gamma distributed rate variation among sites (G4) and a subtree prunning and regrafting tree swapping algorithm. The seven Nigeria bat betacoronaviruses and 15 bat RVs are highlighted with solid circles. The betacoronavirus subgroup and RV species information is shown to the right side of the phylogeny. The maximum likelihood bootstrap is indicated next to the nodes. The scale bar indicates the estimated number of nucleotide substitutions per site.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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