Genetic diversity of alpha and #betacoronaviruses in cave and temple-roosting #bats in #Vientiane Province, #Lao PDR
Abstract The emergence of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2 highlights the significant public health and economic threats posed by coronaviruses . In Lao PDR , SARS-CoV-2-related bat coronaviruses capable of binding to human ACE2 receptors have been found in northern regions , but little is known about coronavirus diversity in anthropized environments like temples . This study investigated coronavirus circulation, diversity, and prevalence in bats from caves and temples in Vientiane Province , Lao PDR. A total of 648 guano samples (505 Chaerephon plicatus , 100 Hipposideros spp ., 43 Taphozous spp .) were collected between December 2022 and June 2023 and screened using pan-coronavirus RT-PCR approach . The overall positivity rate was 17.28%, significantly higher in caves (18.8%) than temples (4.41%) (p = 0.003). C. plicatus showed the highest positivity rate (21.38%), followed by Hipposideros spp . 4%, while Taphozous spp . were negative. Phylogenetic analysis revealed diverse...