Discovery of Potentially Fatal Coronavirus Strain in Brazilian Bats Raises Alarm
Brazilian bats harbor a diverse range of coronaviruses, including a strain resembling MERS-CoV, which causes high fatality rates in humans. Research is being conducted to ascertain its potential risk to human health. The findings underscore the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance of bat populations to prevent possible spillover events.
A recent study reveals that Brazilian bats are home to a significant and varied range of coronaviruses, including a newly identified strain that could pose a threat to human health in the future. Researchers are conducting laboratory tests to determine the risk of transmission to humans. The strain bears a striking resemblance to the bat-based virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a disease with a high human fatality rate of approximately 35%.
Since its emergence in 2012, MERS-CoV has led to 858 confirmed deaths mainly in regions of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, making it the deadliest known coronavirus that can infect humans. In contrast, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, has a comparatively lower fatality rate of around 2%.
Scientists from Brazil and China discovered this closely related virus while examining 16 different bat species in Brazil for pathogens. The research team, led by Bruna Stefanie Silvério from the Federal University of São Paulo, collected over 400 samples and identified seven unique coronaviruses from two bat species: Molossus molossus and Artibeus lituratus. Notably, only one of these variants shows a close evolutionary connection to MERS-CoV.
This finding indicates that similar viruses are circulating in South American bats, expanding the known geographical range of the MERS-CoV family. Bats have long been recognized as a potential source of viruses harmful to humans, with prior knowledge dating back to the SARS epidemic in 2002. The viral outbreak, which concluded by mid-2003, had a fatality rate approaching 10% and was later confirmed to have originated from bats.
In 2012, the emergence of MERS further solidified the understanding of bats as natural reservoirs for such pathogens, with the virus most likely spilling over from bats to camels and then to humans. Although MERS spreads less effectively among humans, it has still reached various continents due to international travel.
The identification of a MERS-like strain in South America highlights the essential role bats play in harboring emerging viruses, as stated by Silvério and her research team. Current findings suggest that parts of the virus’s spike protein, which enables it to bind to mammalian cells, indicate possible interaction with the receptor utilized by MERS-CoV.
To explore this further, experiments are planned to take place in Hong Kong within the year. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, awareness about the transmission risks from wild animals to humans has heightened. While the discovery of this bat-borne virus is alarming, it also presents an opportunity for monitoring and research. Continuous epidemiological surveillance of bats is crucial, as emphasized by co-author Ricardo Durães-Carvalho from the Federal University of São Paulo.
In summary, the identification of a potentially dangerous coronavirus strain in Brazilian bats raises significant concern regarding the risk of transmission to humans. With the historical context of similar outbreaks and the documented role of bats as viral reservoirs, the scientific community emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring. This discovery highlights the duality of risk and opportunity in understanding emerging infectious diseases, reinforcing the importance of epidemiological vigilance among wildlife populations.
Original Source: www.sciencealert.com
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