Lyssaviruses are the causative agents of rabies, a zoonotic, fatal disease that is thought to be ancestral to bats. In the last decade, the detection of bat associated lyssaviruses is increasing also ...in Europe. Within a retrospective bat associated lyssavirus surveillance study a total of 225 dead bats of 21 bat species were collected in Slovenia between 2012 and 2019 and tested by specific real-time RT-PCR method. The first lyssavirus positive sample in bats in Slovenia was detected using the real-time RT-PCR, the fluorescent antibody test, and next generation sequencing, while the rabies tissue culture inoculation test was unsuccessful due to sample degradation and storage conditions. The nearly complete genome of Divača bat lyssavirus from Slovenia consists of 11,871 nucleotides and reflects the characteristic gene organization known for lyssaviruses, encoding the five viral proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of Divača bat lyssavirus revealed that it belongs to phylogroup I lyssaviruses and is most closely related to Kotalahti bat lyssavirus (KBLV) with 87.20% nucleotide and 99.22% amino acid identity. Together with KBLV, Khujand virus, European bat lyssavirus 2, Bakeloh bat lyssavirus, and Aravan virus, Divača bat lyssavirus was detected in the genus Myotis suggesting its key role in the transmission and maintenance of certain lyssaviruses.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Palearctic bats host a diversity of lyssaviruses, though not the classical rabies virus (RABV). As surveillance for bat rabies over the Palearctic area covering Central and Eastern Europe and ...Siberian regions of Russia has been irregular, we lack data on geographic and seasonal patterns of the infection.
To address this, we undertook serological testing, using non-lethally sampled blood, on 1027 bats of 25 species in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Slovenia between 2014 and 2018. The indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected rabies virus anti-glycoprotein antibodies in 33 bats, giving an overall seroprevalence of 3.2%. Bat species exceeding the seroconversion threshold included Myotis blythii, Myotis gracilis, Myotis petax, Myotis myotis, Murina hilgendorfi, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Vespertilio murinus. While Myotis species (84.8%) and adult females (48.5%) dominated in seropositive bats, juveniles of both sexes showed no difference in seroprevalence. Higher numbers tested positive when sampled during the active season (10.5%), as compared with the hibernation period (0.9%). Bat rabies seroprevalence was significantly higher in natural habitats (4.0%) compared with synanthropic roosts (1.2%). Importantly, in 2018, we recorded 73.1% seroprevalence in a cave containing a M. blythii maternity colony in the Altai Krai of Russia.
Identification of such "hotspots" of non-RABV lyssavirus circulation not only provides important information for public health protection, it can also guide research activities aimed at more in-depth bat rabies studies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim
There is an increasing evidence showing that species within various taxonomic groups have reticulate evolutionary histories with several cases of introgression events. Investigating the ...phylogeography of species complexes can provide insight into these introgressions, and when and where these hybridizations occurred. In this study, we investigate the biogeography of a widely distributed Western Palaearctic bat species complex, namely Myotis nattereri sensu lato. This complex exhibits high genetic diversity and in its western distribution range is composed of deeply diverged genetical lineages. However, little is known about the genetic structure of the eastern populations. We also infer the conservation and taxonomical implications of the identified genetic divergences.
Taxon
Myotis nattereri sensu lato including M. schaubi.
Location
Western Palaearctic.
Methods
We analysed 161 specimens collected from 67 locations and sequenced one mitochondrial and four nuclear DNA markers, and combined these with the available GenBank sequences. We used haplotype networks, PCA, t‐SNE and Bayesian clustering algorithms to investigate the population structure and Bayesian trees to infer the phylogenetic relationship of the lineages.
Results
We identified deeply divergent genetical lineages. In some cases, nuclear and mitochondrial markers were discordant, which we interpret are caused by hybridization between lineages. We identified three such introgression events. These introgressions occurred when spatially separated lineages came into contact after range expansions. Based on the genetic distinction of the identified lineages, we suggest a revision in the taxonomy of this species group with two possible new species: M. hoveli and M. tschuliensis.
Main conclusions
Our findings suggest that the M. nattereri complex has a reticulate evolutionary history with multiple cases of hybridizations between some of the identified lineages.
Studying hybrid zones that form between morphologically cryptic taxa offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of cryptic speciation and the evolution of reproductive barriers. Although hybrid ...zones have long been the focus of evolutionary studies, the awareness of cryptic hybrid zones increased recently due to rapidly growing evidence of biological diversity lacking obvious phenotypic differentiation. The characterization of cryptic hybrid zones with genome‐wide analysis is in its early stages and offers new perspectives for studying population admixture and thus the impact of gene flow. In this study, we investigate the population genomics of the Myotis nattereri complex in one of its secondary contact zones, where a putative hybrid zone is formed between two of its cryptic lineages. By utilizing a whole‐genome shotgun sequencing approach, we aim to characterize this cryptic hybrid zone in detail. Demographic analysis suggests that the cryptic lineages diverged during the Pliocene, c. 3.6 million years ago. Despite this ancient separation, the populations in the contact zone exhibit mitochondrial introgression and a considerable amount of mixing in nuclear genomes. The genomic structure of the populations corresponds to geographic locations and the genomic admixture changes along a geographic gradient. These findings suggest that there is no effective hybridization barrier between both lineages, nevertheless, their population structure is shaped by dispersal barriers. Our findings highlight how such deeply diverged cryptic lineages can still readily hybridize in secondary contact.
A striking feature of white-nose syndrome, a fungal infection of hibernating bats, is the difference in infection outcome between North America and Europe. Here we show high WNS prevalence both in ...Europe and on the West Siberian Plain in Asia. Palearctic bat communities tolerate similar fungal loads of Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection as their Nearctic counterparts and histopathology indicates equal focal skin tissue invasiveness pathognomonic for WNS lesions. Fungal load positively correlates with disease intensity and it reaches highest values at intermediate latitudes. Prevalence and fungal load dynamics in Palearctic bats remained persistent and high between 2012 and 2014. Dominant haplotypes of five genes are widespread in North America, Europe and Asia, expanding the source region of white-nose syndrome to non-European hibernacula. Our data provides evidence for both endemicity and tolerance to this persistent virulent fungus in the Palearctic, suggesting that host-pathogen interaction equilibrium has been established.
The castle Grad na Goričkem lies on the western hills surrounding the Pannonian basin. Its cellars provide a unique underground habitat, which is rare in the surrounding region. The cellars were ...found to shelter highly lithophilic species Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis myotis and occasionally at least four additional bat species. Approximately one hundred individuals of Miniopterus schreibersii use the cellars from spring to autumn. During winter Rhinolophus hipposideros is the most abundant bat species. Myotis myotis uses the castle mostly as autumnal mating quarters. The most serious threat to these bats, besides vandalism, is an imminent collapse of the castle wing above the cellars with the highest concentration of bats. Some conservation measures are already being implemented. The crucial element of the conservation of the bats, with special emphasis on Miniopterus schreibersii, is the correct renovation of the castle's cellars.
Determination of bat lyssavirus in Slovenia Peter Hostnik; Danijela Rihtarič; Primož Presetnik ...
Zdravniški vestnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia : 1992),
03/2010, Letnik:
79, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background: To study bats, as a reservoir for European bat lyssavirus (EBLV) in Slovenia, native bat samples were tested in year 2008. Bats were captured from diff erent locations in Slovenia and ...blood samples, mouth and brain swabs were collected from live and dead bats. 260 samples of oral swabs and 38 brain samples were tested by specifi c RT-PCR assay to detect lyssavirus genome. Results: 216 blood samples, collected from the same bats, were tested by FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization) test to detect the prevalence of lyssavirus antibodies among bats. Virus RNA was not detected in any of the samples, all blood samples werealso negative for specifi c antibodies. Conclusions: Despite the data from this study, EBL viruses can cause fatal infections in humans and all bats involved in contact incidents with humans should be tested to determine whether the victim was exposed to EBL virus. In order to prevent lyssavirus transmission from bats to humans, all bat handlers and laboratory personnel should be informed about the possible risk of lyssavirus exposure via bats and their vaccination against rabies is strongly recommended .
Clostridioides difficile in bat guano Bandelj, Petra; Knapič, Tea; Rousseau, Joyce ...
Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases,
August 2019, 2019-Aug, 2019-08-00, 20190801, Letnik:
65
Journal Article
Recenzirano
•Almost 20% of 93 bat guano samples contain Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile).•C. difficile ribotypes 078, 056 and a new ribotype (designated CDB3; A + B+CDT-) were identified.•Bats do not seem ...to be a significant source for C. difficile dissemination in the environment.•Dissemination of known and new C. difficile ribotypes from bats is still possible.
Bats are associated with the emergence of several mammalian diseases. Their sessional migration, and tendency to form large colonies in close proximity to human habitats enables effective intra- and inter-species transmission of pathogens. Clostridioides difficile is an important enteric pathogen in humans and animals; however, the source of its dissemination in the population is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. difficile in bats, and to characterize C. difficile isolates.
Feces (n = 93) was sampled from bats during their migration across Europe. Eighteen samples (19.4%) were positive for C. difficile; ribotypes 078, 056, and a new ribotype CDB3 were identified.
Clostridioides difficile ribotypes 078 and 056 are associated with human and animal diseases. The C. difficile prevalence and ribotypes in this study do not necessarily identify bats as a significant source, but more likely as an indicator of C. difficile perpetuation in the environment.
An acoustic survey of bats was conducted throughout 2016 on the slopes of the hill Črna griža near Kozina, and from the end of August 2016 to the end of October 2017 on a small Griško polje plateau ...close to the village of Dolenja vas near Senožeče — both sites are located in the south-west of Slovenia. Echolocation calls of Tadarida teniotis were recorded at both sites. T. teniotis was recorded near Kozina during 11 nights from April to October 2016, but it was rare, with its 38 passes constituting just 0.53% of all bat passes. It was even rarer near Dolenja vas where it was recorded twice only on the hill Veliki Ognjivec — in April and October 2017 — where constituting only 0.0001% of all bat passes. Both sites are located on the northern border of T. teniotis Submediterranean range. T. teniotis is the 31st bat species recorded in Slovenia and the 30th bat species currently living in the country.
V prispevku podajamo opis prvih najdb nimfnega netopirja (Myotis alcathoe) v Sloveniji. Samec in dve samici te vrste so bili ujeti ob mlaki pri Rdečem kamnu sredi starih bukovih-jelovih gozdov na ...Kočevskem rogu, kjer je bilo zabeleženo še 16 drugih vrst netopirjev. Nimfni netopir je 30. vrsta netopirjev v Sloveniji. Predvidevamo, da je razširjen po starih listopadnih gozdovih, kar pa bodo lahko potrdile le nadaljnje terenske raziskave v povezavi z genetskimi metodami.
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