Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Virology

Bats are now highlighted as reservoir hosts for emerging viruses that are potentially deadly and zoonotic (Marburg virus, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, and MERS corona viruses). Numerous studies were conducted on bats worldwide, little was known on viruses of Egyptian bats. The objective of this surveillance study was to screening bat associated viruses implicated in zoonotic events. Bat samples were collected using mist nets and hard traps and the species identification was morphologically determined into frugivorous and insectivorous species. We screened for RNA viruses; specifically, West Nile fever virus (WNV), Coronaviruses (CoVs; MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2), Henipaviruses (HeV and NiV), Rabies virus (RABV) and Influenza A viruses (IAVs) viruses using the one-step RT- qPCR technique. We used viral-specific primers and probes, as well as virus sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to further characterization of the virus. Except for Rift Valley Fever Virus, no evidence of all viruses genome in any studied samples. Rift valley virus RNAs were detected in two liver samples of insectivorous bats only. This study extends the current knowledge by obtaining additional sequences from bats that haven't been previously identified as hosts of these viruses. The finding of viruses highly correlated to human strains and hence of public health concern, claimed the significance of intensive surveillance. To our knowledge, this is the first bat-associated virus surveillance study in Egypt spanning from 2019-2021 that covering locations with moderate to high levels of interaction between bats and human and the first molecular detection of RVFV in Pipistrellus deserti bat in Egypt

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