<i>Hibecovirus</i> (genus <i>Betacoronavirus</i>) infection linked to gut microbial dysbiosis in bats.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about how zoonotic virus infections manifest in wildlife reservoirs. However, a common health consequence of enteric virus infections is gastrointestinal diseases following a shift in gut microbial composition. The sub-Saharan hipposiderid bat complex has recently emerged to host at least three coronaviruses (CoVs), with Hipposideros caffer D appearing particularly susceptible to Hibecovirus CoV-2B infection. In this study, we complement body condition and infection status data with information about the gut microbial community to understand the health impact of CoV infections in a wild bat population. Of the three CoVs, only infections with the distantly SARS-related Hibecovirus CoV-2B were associated with lower body condition and altered the gut micro

SUBMITTER: Melville DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11936109 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature