The Recently Discovered Bokeloh Bat Lyssavirus: Insights Into Its Genetic Heterogeneity and Spatial Distribution in Europe and the Population Genetics of Its Primary Host

Publication date: Available online 9 September 2017 Source:Advances in Virus Research Author(s): Elisa Eggerbauer, Cécile Troupin, Karsten Passior, Florian Pfaff, Dirk Höper, Antonie Neubauer-Juric, Stephanie Haberl, Christiane Bouchier, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Hervé Bourhy, Thomas Müller, Laurent Dacheux, Conrad M. Freuling In 2010, a novel lyssavirus named Bokeloh bat lyssavirus (BBLV) was isolated from a Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) in Germany. Two further viruses were isolated in the same country and in France in recent years, all from the same bat species and all found in moribund or dead bats. Here we report the description and the full-length genome sequence of five additional BBLV isolates from Germany (n =4) and France (n =1). Interestingly, all of them were isolated from the Natterer's bat, except one from Germany, which was found in a common Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), a widespread and abundant bat species in Europe. The latter represents the first case of transmission of BBLV to another bat species. Phylogenetic analysis clearly demonstrated the presence of two different lineages among this lyssavirus species: lineages A and B. The spatial distribution of these two lineages remains puzzling, as both of them comprised isolates from France and Germany; although clustering of isolates was observed on a regional scale, especially in Germany. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (CYTB) gene from positive...
Source: Advances in Virus Research - Category: Virology Source Type: research