SE0569: Coronavirus Prevalence in GB Bats (Active and Passive Surveillance) - SE0569

Earlier research into the origin of the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak resulted in the discovery of many SARS-like bat coronaviruses, most originating in the Rhinolophus genus of horseshoe bats. A number of coronaviruses (CoV) that are closely related to SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in bats but their origins, evolution and mode of transmission into humans remains unclear. Currently bats are considered the most likely natural reservoir of SARS-CoV-2, however, with more than 1200 species of bats globally and the >3000 CoVs estimated to be circulating in bats (Anthony et al., 2017), identifying the potential intermediary host, relative susceptibility and potential evolutionary/recombination events arising from SARS-like bat CoVs poses challenges. In this project we hope to further our understanding of the distribution and diversity of bat CoVs in GB bats, making full use of our unique access to bat material submitted as part of the Defra funded Rabies Passive Surveillance Programme. Oropharyngeal and anal swabs will be collected from selected bats and screened using a pan Coronavirus RT-PCR. In addition, we aim to study CoV distribution in a population of serotine bats within a number of roosts in Southern England and Wales. It is hoped that swab samples (oropharyngeal, fur and rectal swabs) and blood will be collected from approximately 20 individual serotine bats from a number of roosts between Mid-May and August 2022. The swab samples will be screened using a pan CoV RT-PCR. If resources allow any residual serum (after screening for EBLV-1 antibodies) will be tested using available CoV serological assays. Please note this NED proposal supports the related EBLV-1 Active Surveillance proposal, ensuring sufficient funds are available to complete the field and laboratory tasks required for both CoV and EBLV-1 prevalence studies. Active bat surveillance field sampling skills at APHA have lapsed. The Active Surveillance NED projects will allow those skills to be resurrected ensuring APHA's capacity to investigate disease incursions and emergence is current and optimal. The associated Home Office Licence will be renewed to include the additional sampling (fur, anal) and aims (CoVs surveillance). Material generated through this NED project will be used to assess host genetic susceptibility in an additional NED proposal.