Investigating coronaviruses and white-nose syndrome fungus in free-ranging North American bats
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, using samples collected by state, federal, and tribal partners as part of the white-nose syndrome/Pd fungus surveillance, assessed the genetic diversity of bat coronaviruses in North America.
Why this matters: Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in native North American bat populations has been conducted to address concerns regarding the potential spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, the potential for establishing a reservoir in free-ranging bats, and the subsequent potential for genetic recombination with other native bat coronaviruses that could give rise to new variants with unknown consequences. Additionally, co-infection with multiple CoV strains and with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been reported to increase disease severity in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) (Davy et al. 2018) demonstrating the need to better understand the co-distribution of both bat coronaviruses and Pd.
Coronaviruses are known to cause disease in a wide variety of animals and can transmit between species. Such an event at an exotic animal market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China is suspected to have initiated the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, as evidenced by viruses isolated from early human cases that closely resembled a betacoronavirus isolated from Asian horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus sp., Lau et al. 2020). Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in native North American bat populations has been conducted due to concerns regarding the potential spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, the potential for establishing a viral reservoir in free-ranging bats, and the subsequent potential for genetic recombination with other native bat coronaviruses, giving rise to new variants that may threaten wildlife, domestic animal and/or human health. Additionally, co-infection with multiple CoV strains and the potential for increased viral shedding in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) co-infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and overall disease severity reported by Davy et al. (2018) demonstrates the need to better understand the co-distribution of both bat coronaviruses and Pd to better assess risks to bat population health. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, using samples collected by state, federal, and tribal partners as part of the white-nose syndrome/Pd fungus surveillance, assessed the genetic diversity of bat coronaviruses in North America. Environmental guano samples (n = 113) from 95 summer roosts in sixteen U.S. states and British Columbia, Canada collected between 2019-2021 were evaluated for the presence of both Pd and coronaviruses. One or more coronaviruses were detected at ~75% of roosts sampled while concurrent Pd and CoV occurred at 18 roosts in six states. Phylogenetic analysis identified four distinct clades of alphacoronavirus at bat roosts with variably overlapping geographic distributions. Several roosts contained multiple alpha-CoVs from different clades, increasing the odds of genetic recombination. Of the states sampled, Washington and Montana showed the highest CoV diversity at bat roosts and thus may serve as a potential mixing pot for bat CoVs strains. The predominate alpha-CoV clade identified was associated with members of three bat genera (Myotis, Eptesicus, and Corynorhinus). Phylogenetic analyses of coronaviruses among free-ranging North American wildlife to understand geographic distribution and associations with the various North American bat species are ongoing. Guano collected from individual bats whose species will be genetically confirmed are currently being archived in anticipation of adding species-specific data to this analysis. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in free-ranging North American bats.
Research to understand SARS-CoV-2 risks for wildlife
SARS-CoV-2 in Wildlife
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, using samples collected by state, federal, and tribal partners as part of the white-nose syndrome/Pd fungus surveillance, assessed the genetic diversity of bat coronaviruses in North America.
Why this matters: Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in native North American bat populations has been conducted to address concerns regarding the potential spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, the potential for establishing a reservoir in free-ranging bats, and the subsequent potential for genetic recombination with other native bat coronaviruses that could give rise to new variants with unknown consequences. Additionally, co-infection with multiple CoV strains and with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been reported to increase disease severity in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) (Davy et al. 2018) demonstrating the need to better understand the co-distribution of both bat coronaviruses and Pd.
Coronaviruses are known to cause disease in a wide variety of animals and can transmit between species. Such an event at an exotic animal market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China is suspected to have initiated the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, as evidenced by viruses isolated from early human cases that closely resembled a betacoronavirus isolated from Asian horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus sp., Lau et al. 2020). Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in native North American bat populations has been conducted due to concerns regarding the potential spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, the potential for establishing a viral reservoir in free-ranging bats, and the subsequent potential for genetic recombination with other native bat coronaviruses, giving rise to new variants that may threaten wildlife, domestic animal and/or human health. Additionally, co-infection with multiple CoV strains and the potential for increased viral shedding in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) co-infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and overall disease severity reported by Davy et al. (2018) demonstrates the need to better understand the co-distribution of both bat coronaviruses and Pd to better assess risks to bat population health. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, using samples collected by state, federal, and tribal partners as part of the white-nose syndrome/Pd fungus surveillance, assessed the genetic diversity of bat coronaviruses in North America. Environmental guano samples (n = 113) from 95 summer roosts in sixteen U.S. states and British Columbia, Canada collected between 2019-2021 were evaluated for the presence of both Pd and coronaviruses. One or more coronaviruses were detected at ~75% of roosts sampled while concurrent Pd and CoV occurred at 18 roosts in six states. Phylogenetic analysis identified four distinct clades of alphacoronavirus at bat roosts with variably overlapping geographic distributions. Several roosts contained multiple alpha-CoVs from different clades, increasing the odds of genetic recombination. Of the states sampled, Washington and Montana showed the highest CoV diversity at bat roosts and thus may serve as a potential mixing pot for bat CoVs strains. The predominate alpha-CoV clade identified was associated with members of three bat genera (Myotis, Eptesicus, and Corynorhinus). Phylogenetic analyses of coronaviruses among free-ranging North American wildlife to understand geographic distribution and associations with the various North American bat species are ongoing. Guano collected from individual bats whose species will be genetically confirmed are currently being archived in anticipation of adding species-specific data to this analysis. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in free-ranging North American bats.