Metagenomic analysis of fecal and tissue samples from 18 endemic bat species in Switzerland revealed a diverse virus composition including potentially zoonotic viruses. | LitMetric
Many recent disease outbreaks in humans had a zoonotic virus etiology. Bats in particular have been recognized as reservoirs to a large variety of viruses with the potential to cross-species transmission. In order to assess the risk of bats in Switzerland for such transmissions, we determined the virome of tissue and fecal samples of 14 native and 4 migrating bat species. In total, sequences belonging to 39 different virus families, 16 of which are known to infect vertebrates, were detected. Contigs of coronaviruses, adenoviruses, hepeviruses, rotaviruses A and H, and parvoviruses with potential zoonotic risk were characterized in more detail. Most interestingly, in a ground stool sample of a Vespertilio murinus colony an almost complete genome of a Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was detected by Next generation sequencing and confirmed by PCR. In conclusion, bats in Switzerland naturally harbour many different viruses. Metagenomic analyses of non-invasive samples like ground stool may support effective surveillance and early detection of viral zoonoses.
The Neotropical bat-ectoparasite family Spelaeorhynchidae comprises seven species into in one genus. The species Spelaeorhynchus praecursor is the most distributed in the region, parasitizing phyllostomid bats of the subfamilies Carolliinae, Glossophaginae and Stenodermatinae. The present study expands the known geographic distribution of this species, providing new host records, as well as the first SEM images detailing the main characteristics of this species.
With their unique ecosystems and evolutionary dynamics, small islands offer fascinating contexts to explore animal diversity. Island bats are key players in maintaining ecological balance. However, their populations are threatened worldwide, necessitating comprehensive research and conservation strategies.
Understanding the processes and factors that influence the structure of host-associated microbial assemblages has been a major area of research as these assemblages play a role in host defense against pathogens. Previous work has found that bacterial taxa within bat cutaneous microbial assemblages have antifungal capabilities against the emerging fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. However, our understanding of natural fluctuations in these cutaneous microbial assemblages over time due to shifts in host habitat is lacking.
In this study, the photodegradation of cetirizine dihydrochloride (CET) by BiO/TiO heterojunctions under simulated solar light irradiation (300-800nm) was examined in detail for the first time. A hydrothermal synthesis of the photocatalyst was carried out, and several analytical techniques were used to characterize the product. The resulting BiO/TiO photocatalyst effectively removed CET from an aqueous solution.
