Distant relatives of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and close relatives of human coronavirus 229E in bats, Ghana

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Sep;15(9):1377-84. doi: 10.3201/eid1509.090224.

Abstract

We tested 12 bat species in Ghana for coronavirus (CoV) RNA. The virus prevalence in insectivorous bats (n = 123) was 9.76%. CoV was not detected in 212 fecal samples from Eidolon helvum fruit bats. Leaf-nosed bats pertaining to Hipposideros ruber by morphology had group 1 and group 2 CoVs. Virus concentrations were < or =45,000 copies/100 mg of bat feces. The diversified group 1 CoV shared a common ancestor with the human common cold virus hCoV-229E but not with hCoV-NL63, disputing hypotheses of common human descent. The most recent common ancestor of hCoV-229E and GhanaBt-CoVGrp1 existed in approximately 1686-1800 ad. The GhanaBt-CoVGrp2 shared an old ancestor (approximately 2,400 years) with the severe acute respiratory syndrome-like group of CoV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chiroptera / virology*
  • Coronavirus 229E, Human / classification*
  • Coronavirus 229E, Human / genetics
  • Coronavirus* / classification
  • Coronavirus* / genetics
  • Coronavirus* / isolation & purification
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Ghana
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / classification*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FJ710043
  • GENBANK/FJ710044
  • GENBANK/FJ710045
  • GENBANK/FJ710046
  • GENBANK/FJ710047
  • GENBANK/FJ710048
  • GENBANK/FJ710049
  • GENBANK/FJ710050
  • GENBANK/FJ710051
  • GENBANK/FJ710052
  • GENBANK/FJ710053
  • GENBANK/FJ710054
  • GENBANK/FJ710055
  • GENBANK/FJ710056