Abstract:
Abstract: Bats living in close contact with people in Rwanda were tested for evidence of infection with viruses
of zoonotic potential. Mucosal swabs from 503 bats representing 17 species were sampled from 2010 to 2014
and screened by consensus PCR for 11 viral families. Samples were negative for all viral families except
coronaviruses, which were detected in 27 bats belonging to eight species. Known coronaviruses detected
included the betacorona viruses: Kenya bat coronaviruses, Eidolon bat coronavirus, and Bat coronavirus
HKU9, as well as an alphacoronavirus, Chaerephon Bat coronavirus. Novel coronaviruses included two
betacorona viruses clustering with SARS-CoV, a 2d coronavirus, and an alphacoronavirus.
Keywords: Rwanda, Bats, Coronaviruses, Human–wildlife interfaces
