Biosurveillance of coronaviruses in <i>Rhinolophus</i> bats from South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Rhinolophus bats harbour various alpha- and betacoronaviruses and are believed to be the progenitor host of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. These bats are widely distributed, with 38 species recognized in Africa. Although coronaviruses have been detected in several species in Africa, there is a lack of surveillance among South African rhinolophids. This study conducted longitudinal nucleic acid surveillance for Rhinolophus spp. coronaviruses from September 2021 to January 2024 in a mixed species cave in Limpopo, South Africa, using a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay. Among the 492 gastrointestinal samples collected, alphacoronavirus RNA was detected in 29.47% of samples, with betacoronavirus RNA identified among 7.11% of samples, with excretion peaks present in spring and summer (September-

SUBMITTER: Rademan R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12704499 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature