Molecular Surveillance for Potential Zoonotic Pathogens in Troglophilus Bats: Detection and Molecular Characterization of Bat Coronaviruses in Southern Italy.

ABSTRACT: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest in bats, as they are natural hosts for numerous viruses, some of which have crossed species boundaries. Despite continued efforts in the past, the ecology of bat-related viruses in a significant part of national territories, such as Italy, remains largely unexplored. Herein, we describe the detection and molecular characterization of bat coronaviruses, identified during a viral survey on selected potential zoonotic pathogens (lyssavirus and coronaviruses) carried out in Sicily, southern Italy. A total number of 330 samples were collected from 149 bats in a period (November 2020-April 2023) overlapping the COVID-19 pandemic. All samples tested negative for lyssavirus and SARS-CoV-2, while 12 bats (8.05%) tested positive to a pan-coronavirus

SUBMITTER: Mira F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12114776 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature