New Delhi: Scientists have detected a Covid-like virus in moustached bats in Brazil. This has triggered fresh global health concerns about possible future spillovers. An international research team from Japan, the US, Australia, and Belgium made the discovery. They studied Pteronotus parnellii a small insect-eating bat known for its distinct facial tufts. Their research has focused particularly on the identification of Covid-like viruses in these bats, emphasizing the serious nature of their findings.
The newly identified virus, named BRZ batCoV, belongs to the betacoronavirus family. This family also includes SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. According to researchers from Osaka and Sydney universities, the discovery of a Covid-like virus among these bats suggests the virus’s genetic structure is distinct from all known betacoronaviruses. It potentially represents a new subgenus.
Experts noted that BRZ batCoV contains a furin cleavage site a feature also present in SARS-CoV-2 that helps viruses infect new hosts. However, early studies suggest the virus is more closely related to MERS. MERS is deadlier but less transmissible than Covid-19. These experts continue to assess the implications of finding a Covid-like virus in such bat species.
While scientists emphasized there’s no evidence yet that BRZ batCoV can infect humans, the identification of a Covid-like virus in these moustached bats has heightened their warnings. They warn the discovery underscores bats’ role as reservoirs for emerging pathogens. The finding offers crucial insights into the evolutionary potential. It also highlights the zoonotic risks of viruses lurking in wildlife.
–IANS
