Six New Coronaviruses Discovered In Bats in Myanmar
Researchers discovered 6 new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar for the first time with the collaboration of Smithsonian’s Global Health Program (GHP). The potential for transmission of viruses between species will be assessed by further studies to better understand the risks to humans beings. The recently found coronaviruses are not closely related to the already known coronaviruses including COVID-19, MERS, or SARS CoV-1.
The research article is published in the journal PLOS ONE, and this study will help in understanding the diversity of coronaviruses in bats as well as help international efforts to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases that may be a threat to public health, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic that is ongoing.
Marc Valitutto, the former wildlife veterinarian with the Smithsonian’s Global Health Program and lead author of the study, said, “Viral pandemics remind us how closely human wellness is attached to the health of wild animals and the environment.” He added, “Humans around the world are communicating with wild animals with raising frequency, so the more we understand these viruses in animals– what makes them mutate and how other species are infected- the much better we can
reduce their pandemic possibility.”These new viruses were detected while conducting biosurveillance of animals and humans as part of the project called PREDICT to better comprehend the situations for disease spillover. The project is an initiative that supports global discovery and surveillance of pathogens that can spread out from animals to humans beings. The United States Agency for International Development has funded this project. The team of the project in Myanmar consists of scientists from the Smithsonian, Myanmar’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the University of California, Davis.
The group concentrated their study on sites in Myanmar where humans are more likely to come into close contact with local wildlife due to development and changes in land use. More than 750 saliva and fecal samples were collected from bats in these locations from May 2016-August 2018. Specialists estimate that countless coronaviruses exist in bats, and many are yet to be found.
Researchers examined the samples and compared them to the known coronaviruses and discovered 6 new coronaviruses for the very first time. The group additionally discovered a coronavirus that was never before found in Myanmar but had been found somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Coronaviruses have caused prevalent disease in humans, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, SARS CoV-1, and MERS. To better understand the threat to human health, further researches are needed to review the potential of viruses for spillover to other species.
“These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring for zoonotic diseases as they take place in wildlife,” authors said. The research will be helpful to detect possible viral threats to public health in a better way by future surveillance of bat populaces.
Suzan Murray, Director, Smithsonian’s Global Health Program and co-author of the study, said: “Lots of coronaviruses may not posture a threat to people, but when we identify these diseases early in animals, at the source, we have a beneficial opportunity to explore the prospective risk.” “Keen monitoring, research, and education are the best tools we have to avoid pandemics before they occur.”
The Smithsonian’s GHP uses interdisciplinary expertise in conservation pathology, wildlife medicine, training of worldwide specialists, and examination of emerging contagious disease to fight risks for conservation and public health around the world. GHP is part of PREDICT in Kenya and Myanmar. The project PREDICT is making it possible for international monitoring for viruses that might spillover from animal hosts to humans to detect and uncover viruses that can be infectious.
Author: Sruthi S
