Bat coronavirus found in two Indian bat species: study
New Delhi: As the world grapples with coronavirus, researchers have found the presence of a different kind of coronavirus -- bat coronavirus (BtCoV) --in two bat species from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
There is no evidence or research to claim that these bat coronaviruses can cause disease in humans, said Dr Pragya D Yadav, Scientist at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and also the first author of study.
The study has been published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research,
Twenty-five bats of Rousettus and Pteropus species from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu were found positive for BtCoV in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
"These bat coronaviruses have no relation with SARS-CoV2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic," Yadav said, adding that Pteropus bat species were earlier found positive for Nipah virus in 2018 and 2019 in Kerala.
"Bats are considered to be the natural reservoir for many viruses, of which some are potential human pathogens. In India, an association of Pteropus medius bats with the Nipah virus was reported in the past. It is suspected that the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also has its association with bats," the objective of the study titled 'Detection of coronaviruses in Pteropus and Rousettus species of bats from different states of India' stated.
"In the present scenario of changing demography and ecological manipulations, it is challenging to have checks on the encounters of bats with other animals and humans," the study stated, highlighting that the need for active and continuous surveillance remains crucial for outbreak alerts for bat-associated viral agents with epidemic potential, which would be helpful in timely interventions.
"Although CoVs in the subfamily coronavirinae do not usually produce clinical symptoms in their natural hosts (bats), accidental transmission of these viruses to humans and other animals may result in respiratory, enteric, hepatic or neurologic diseases of variable severity. It is still not understood as to why only certain CoVs can infect people," the study said.
The scientists stressed on the need of proactive surveillance of zoonotic infections in bats.
The detection and identification of such viruses from bats also recommends cross-sectional antibody surveys (human and domestic animals) in localities where the viruses have been detected.
Similarly, if the epidemiological situation demands, evidence-based surveillance should also be conducted, the study said while emphasing on the need of developing strong mechanisms for working jointly with various stakeholders such as wildlife, poultry, animal husbandry and human health departments.
"In conclusion, our study showed detection of bat CoVs in two species of Indian bats. Continuous active surveillance is required to identify the emerging novel viruses with epidemic potential," Dr Yadav said.
Elaborating on the study, Dr Yadav said throat and rectal swab samples of two bat species -- Rousettus and Pteropus -- from seven states were screened for the bat coronavirus during which the representative samples collected from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu tested positive while those from Karnataka, Chandigarh, Punjab, Telengana, Gujarat and Odisha came out negative.
The reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and sequencing were used for the confirmation of the findings. "This is an ongoing study to understand the prevalence of the Nipah virus in bats," she said.
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Vaishnaw steals Karnataka's success by taking credit for state's achievements: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday hit out at Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accusing him of 'stealing Karnataka's success' by taking credit for achievements of the state.
He questioned why the 'double-engine governments' are unable to match Karnataka's progress.
Siddaramaiah's remarks came after Vaishnaw thanked Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a social media post for 'acknowledging the success' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' programme.
ALSO READ: Siddaramaiah dares Karnataka BJP leaders to question Centre over hike in railway fares
Vaishnaw was responding to a recent Facebook post by Gandhi in which he shared a news report titled "Foxconn Hires 30k Staff at New, Women-led Unit" and praised Karnataka for setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at such scale and speed.
Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn is the largest manufacturer of iPhones, and its second-biggest facility outside China is in Devanahalli near Bengaluru.
Hitting out at the Union minister, Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X', "If Make in India is truly a success, why can't BJP's 'double-engine' states match what Karnataka has delivered?" "When you have no achievements to show, you steal others' success and take the credit," he claimed.
