Preliminary Detection of Bats-associated Influenza A virus from Pakistan

The emergence of zoonotic infections in humans is intensifying the need for awareness of the viruses circulating in animals that can cross the species barrier. Among these are the group of influenza viruses causing seasonal outbreaks and epidemics in humans and animals. As compared to the familiar human and avian influenza viruses, bat influenza viruses are relatively unknown. This study is the first to detect influenza A viruses from bats in Pakistan, which is an important step to improve knowledge about zoonotic diseases. About 22.3% of IAVs (influenza A virus) were present in bats of diverse geographical locations across Pakistan. The phylogenetic studies confirmed that the current samples from bats belong to influenza A viruses. We further identified specific amino acid substitutions that could be associated with bat-related influenza viruses. This study contributes to the understanding and surveillance of influenza A viruses in bat populations, especially in tropical climates.