Detection of Novel SARS-like and Other Coronaviruses in Bats from Kenya

Abstract

Diverse coronaviruses have been identified in bats from several continents but not from Africa. We identified group 1 and 2 coronaviruses in bats in Kenya, including SARS-related coronaviruses. The sequence diversity suggests that bats are well-established reservoirs for and likely sources of coronaviruses for many species, including humans.

Keywords

• Coronavirus
• SARS
• bat viruses
• pathogen discovery
• emerging viral infections
• dispatch