SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>)

SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>)

Neeltje van Doremalen, Alexandra Schäfer, Vineet D. Menachery, Michael Letko, Trenton Bushmaker, Robert J. Fischer, Dania M. Figueroa, Patrick W. Hanley, Greg Saturday, Ralph S. Baric, Vincent J. Munster

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like WIV1-coronavirus (CoV) was first isolated from Rhinolophus sinicus bats and can use the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In the current study, we investigate the ability of WIV1-CoV to infect Rousettus aegyptiacus bats. No clinical signs were observed throughout the experiment. Furthermore, only four oropharyngeal swabs and two respiratory tissues, isolated on day 3 post inoculation, were found positive for viral RNA. Two out of twelve bats showed a modest increase in coronavirus specific antibodies post challenge. In conclusion, WIV1-CoV was unable to cause a robust infection in Rousettus aegyptiacus bats.

2018

WIV1-CoV, coronavirus, emerging infectious diseases, Animal model

DOI: 10.3390/v10120727

Viruses

MDPI AG

Microbiology

EN