Possible zoonotic viral threats associated with bats in southern Ukraine

Abstract

The paper is devoted to evaluation of some bat species inhabiting Ukraine as potential reservoir hosts of highly dangerous viruses including lyssaviruses, MERS-CoV-related coronaviruses, and arboviruses. Repeated catches of bats by a domestic cat were described. Laboratory examination of the caught bats did not detect infection with coronaviruses or arboviruses such as West Nile, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Tribec and Uukuniyemi viruses. The analysis of the literature showed the possibility of persistence of dangerous viruses among examined bat species. The fact that domestic cats may prey on bats that are potential reservoir hosts of dangerous viruses should be considered as a risk factor for infection of humans and cats with lyssaviruses causing rabies, and infection of humans with coronaviruses that may be associated with severe respiratory diseases.

Keywords

• Chiroptera
• arboviruses
• coronaviruses
• lyssaviruses
• pets
• biological risk for humans