Research paperDiversity of bat astroviruses in Lao PDR and Cambodia

•Diverse astroviruses detected in bats in Lao PDR and Cambodia•High polymorphism of astroviruses found in insectivorous and frugivorous bats•High level of genome saturation and hypermutation potential evidenced in astrovirus•Detection of additional astrovirus bat hosts, i.e. nectar bats from the genus Eonycteris•Discovery of a new species of astrovirus in fruit bats (Rousettus sp.)

Astroviruses are known to infect humans and a wide range of animal species, and can cause gastroenteritis in their hosts. Recent studies have reported astroviruses in bats in Europe and in several locations in China. We sampled 1876 bats from 17 genera at 45 sites from 14 and 13 provinces in Cambodia and Lao PDR respectively, and tested them for astroviruses. Our study revealed a high diversity of astroviruses among various Yangochiroptera and Yinpterochiroptera bats. Evidence for varying degrees of host restriction for astroviruses in bats was found. Furthermore, additional Pteropodid hosts were detected. The astroviruses formed distinct phylogenetic clusters within the genus Mamastrovirus, most closely related to other known bat astroviruses. The astrovirus sequences were found to be highly saturated indicating that phylogenetic relationships should be interpreted carefully. An astrovirus clustering in a group with other viruses from diverse hosts, including from ungulates and porcupines, was found in a Rousettus bat. These findings suggest that diverse astroviruses can be found in many species of mammals, including bats.

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