A study has identified a new strain of coronavirus in Brazilian bats, resembling MERS-CoV, which raises concerns about potential risks to human health. Researchers are conducting further testing to understand the transmissibility of this virus. The findings illustrate bats’ significant role as reservoirs for emerging viruses and highlight the necessity of ongoing surveillance to mitigate future pandemic risks.
Recent research has uncovered a diverse collection of coronaviruses in Brazilian bats, including a newly identified strain that may have implications for human health. This discovery has prompted scientists to pursue further testing in secure laboratories to evaluate the potential for human transmission. The strain bears resemblance to the coronavirus responsible for the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which has exhibited a high fatality rate of nearly 35 percent among infected individuals.
The MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), first identified in 2012, has led to 858 confirmed fatalities, primarily in regions of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. This virus exhibits the highest case fatality rate among known coronaviruses that impact humans. In contrast, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, has a significantly lower fatality rate of approximately 2 percent, as reported in a 2022 study.
An international team of researchers, led by Bruna Stefanie Silvério from the Federal University of São Paulo, has made this discovery during pathogen tests across 16 bat species in Brazil. Through the collection of over 400 oral and rectal swabs, the team identified seven distinct coronaviruses, notably from the species Molossus molossus and Artibeus lituratus. Among these, only one viral variant shares an evolutionary lineage with MERS-CoV, indicating an unexpected geographical expansion of related viruses into South America.
Historically, coronaviruses found in bats have posed risks to human health. The SARS outbreak in 2002, which had a fatality ratio of around 10 percent, was traced back to bats. Later, in 2012, the MERS coronavirus emerged, also linked to bats, and has since been carried globally by travelers. The identification of a MERS-like strain in Brazil stresses bats’ vital role as reservoirs for emerging viruses.
Silvério stated, “Right now we aren’t sure it can infect humans, but we detected parts of the virus’s spike protein suggesting potential interaction with the receptor used by MERS-CoV.” Future experiments are planned in Hong Kong this year to further investigate the threat.
The emergence of this bat-borne virus in South America is troubling but presents an opportunity for vigilance. Co-author Ricardo Durães-Carvalho emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of bats for their role as viral reservoirs, explaining, “Bats are important viral reservoirs and should therefore be submitted to continuous epidemiological surveillance.” The study was published in the Journal of Medical Virology.
The discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in Brazilian bats highlights the ongoing threat posed by zoonotic diseases. While further testing is needed to determine the transmissibility to humans, the resemblance to MERS-CoV raises alarm. Continuous surveillance of bat populations is crucial to monitor potential health risks. By recognizing these threats, scholars can better prepare and respond to future pandemics.
Original Source: www.sciencealert.com
