Experimental Infection of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is thought to have originated in wild bats from Asia, and as the resulting pandemic continues into its third year, concerns have been raised that the virus will expand its host range and infect North American wildlife species, including bats. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in large colonies in the southern United States, often in urban areas and, as such, could be exposed to the virus from infected humans. We experimentally challenged wild T. brasiliensis with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of 10 bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, 5 became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to

SUBMITTER: Hall JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9942575 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature