Alphavirus Identification in Neotropical Bats

• Published in: Viruses 2022-01, Vol.14 (2), p.269
• Main Authors: Moreira Marrero, Lucía, Botto Nuñez, Germán, Frabasile, Sandra, Delfraro, Adriana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alphavirus; Alphavirus - classification; Alphavirus - genetics; Alphavirus - isolation & purification; Alphavirus Infections - veterinary; Alphavirus Infections - virology; Animals; arbovirus; Arbovirus Infections - veterinary; Arbovirus Infections - virology; Arboviruses - classification; Arboviruses - genetics; Arboviruses - isolation & purification; Bats; Chiroptera; Chiroptera - virology; Eastern equine encephalitis; Encephalitis; Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine - classification; Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine - genetics; Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine - isolation & purification; Indigenous species; Mosquitoes; Myotis; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Serology; Uruguay; Vectors; Viruses
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v14020269

Alphaviruses ( ) are arthropod-borne viruses responsible for several emerging diseases, maintained in nature through transmission between hematophagous arthropod vectors and susceptible vertebrate hosts. Although bats harbor many species of viruses, their role as reservoir hosts in emergent zoonoses has been verified only in a few cases. With bats being the second most diverse order of mammals, their implication in arbovirus infections needs to be elucidated. Reports on arbovirus infections in bats are scarce, especially in South American indigenous species. In this work, we report the genomic detection and identification of two different alphaviruses in oral swabs from bats captured in Northern Uruguay. Phylogenetic analysis identified Río Negro virus (RNV) in two different species: ( = 6) and spp. ( = 1) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in spp. ( = 2). Previous studies of our group identified RNV and EEEV in mosquitoes and horse serology, suggesting that they may be circulating in enzootic cycles in our country. Our findings reveal that bats can be infected by these arboviruses and that chiropterans could participate in the viral natural cycle as virus amplifiers or dead-end hosts. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of these mammals in the biological cycle of these alphaviruses in Uruguay.