Investigation of astrovirus, coronavirus and paramyxovirus co-infections in bats in the western Indian Ocean

Hoarau, Axel O. G.; Goodman, Steven M.; Al Halabi, Dana; Ramasindrazana, Beza; Lagadec, Erwan; Le Minter, Gildas; Köster, Marie; Dos Santos, Andréa; Schoeman, M. Corrie; Gudo, Eduardo S.; Mavingui, Patrick; Lebarbenchon, Camille

Co-infections have a key role in virus transmission in wild reservoir hosts. We investigated the simultaneous presence of astroviruses, coronaviruses, and paramyxoviruses in bats from Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique, and Reunion Island. A total of 871 samples from 28 bat species representing 8 families were tested by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase genes. Overall, 2.4% of bats tested positive for the presence of at least two viruses, only on Madagascar and in Mozambique. Significant variation in the proportion of co-infections was detected among bat species, and some combinations of co-infection were more common than others. Our findings support that co-infections of the three targeted viruses occur in bats in the western Indian Ocean region, although further studies are needed to assess their epidemiological consequences. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-021-01673-2.