A recent study reveals that scientists have discovered 20 previously unrecorded new viruses in bats from Yunnan Province, China, two of which are highly related to known fatal viruses.
According to Bloomberg News, this research was carried out by a joint team from China and Australia and was published on the 24th in the international journal PLOS Pathogens. Over four years, the research team collected and analyzed kidney tissues from 142 bats in Yunnan, ultimately identifying 22 viruses, 20 of which had never been recorded before. Among them are two henipaviruses closely related to Nipah and Hendra viruses, both of which can cause severe encephalitis and respiratory illnesses, with a fatality rate of up to 75%.
It is reported that the two newly discovered deadly viruses come from fruit bats inhabiting areas near agricultural zones. Researchers note that in such areas, frequent contact between humans, livestock, and wild animals increases the potential for the viruses to "spillover" to humans or livestock.
The study also discovered two new types of bacteria and one unknown parasite. Unlike previous research that focused on bat feces, this study chose to investigate bat kidney tissue, focusing on the key role of bat urine in the virus transmission chain.
The report points out that bat urination may contaminate fruit consumed by humans or animals, and such transmission routes should be given sufficient attention. The research team stated in the paper: "These findings highlight critical zoonotic health threats and the urgent need to assess the potential for viruses to spread to humans or livestock."
With climate change, agricultural expansion, and accelerated urbanization, human interactions with wildlife are becoming more frequent. The researchers urged that preventing emerging infectious diseases calls for enhanced ongoing monitoring of wildlife viruses and international cooperation.