Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Standard Operating Procedure for Lyssavirus Surveillance of the Bat Population in Taiwan
Published on: August 27, 2019
Isolation and characterization of three mammalian orthoreoviruses from European bats
Claudia Kohl1, René Lesnik, Annika Brinkmann
1Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Security 1, Berlin, Germany. KohlC@rki.de
Abstract:
In recent years novel human respiratory disease agents have been described in South East Asia and Australia. The causative pathogens were classified as pteropine orthoreoviruses with strong phylogenetic relationship to orthoreoviruses of flying foxes inhabiting these regions. Subsequently, a zoonotic bat-to-human transmission has been assumed. We report the isolation of three novel mammalian orthoreoviruses (MRVs) from European bats, comprising bat-borne orthoreovirus outside of South East Asia and Australia and moreover detected in insectivorous bats (Microchiroptera). MRVs are well known to infect a broad range of mammals including man. Although they are associated with rather mild and clinically unapparent infections in their hosts, there is growing evidence of their ability to also induce more severe illness in dogs and man. In this study, eight out of 120 vespertilionid bats proved to be infected with one out of three novel MRV isolates, with a distinct organ tropism for the intestine. One isolate was analyzed by 454 genome sequencing. The obtained strain T3/Bat/Germany/342/08 had closest phylogenetic relationship to MRV strain T3D/04, isolated from a dog. These novel reoviruses provide a rare chance of gaining insight into possible transmission events and of tracing the evolution of bat viruses.
Insights
Novel mammalian reoviruses (MRVs) were isolated from European bats, expanding the known range of these viruses. This discovery offers insights into bat virus evolution and potential zoonotic transmission events.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Bat Ecology
Background:
- Novel human respiratory disease agents, pteropine orthoreoviruses, have been identified in Southeast Asia and Australia, linked to flying foxes.
- Zoonotic transmission from bats to humans has been previously hypothesized based on these findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the isolation of three novel mammalian orthoreoviruses (MRVs) from European bats.
- To investigate the presence of bat-borne orthoreoviruses outside of Asia and Australia.
- To identify MRVs in insectivorous bats (Microchiroptera).
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of novel MRV strains from European bats.
- Detection of MRVs in vespertilionid bats.
- Genome sequencing of one MRV isolate (T3/Bat/Germany/342/08) using 454 technology.
Main Results:
- Three novel MRV isolates were identified in European bats, marking the first detection outside of Southeast Asia and Australia.
- Eight out of 120 bats were infected, with isolates showing distinct intestinal tropism.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed the closest relationship of the German isolate to a canine MRV strain.
Conclusions:
- These findings expand the known geographic and host range of mammalian orthoreoviruses.
- The study provides a unique opportunity to understand bat virus transmission and evolution.
- The presence of MRVs in European insectivorous bats highlights the need for continued surveillance.
