Identification of Alpha and Beta Coronavirus in Wildlife Species in France: Bats, Rodents, Rabbits, and Hedgehogs

Elodie Monchatre-Leroy (1) , Franck Boué (1) , Jean-Marc Boucher (1) , Camille Renault (1) , François Moutou (2, 3) , Meriadeg M. Ar Gouilh (4, 5) , Gérald Umhang (1)

1 LRFSN - Laboratoire de la rage et de la faune sauvage de Nancy
2 ANSES - Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail
3 ENVA - École nationale vétérinaire - Alfort
4 ERI - Environnement et Risques infectieux - Environment and Infectious Risks
5 GRAM 2.0 - Groupe de Recherche sur l'Adaptation Microbienne

Coronaviruses are closely monitored in the context of emerging diseases and, as illustrated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are known to cross the species barrier and eventually to move from wildlife to humans. Knowledge of the diversity of coronaviruses in wildlife is therefore essential to better understand and prevent emergence events. This study explored the presence of coronaviruses in four wild mammal orders in France: Bats, rodents, lagomorphs, and hedgehogs. Betacoronavirus and Alphacoronavirus genera were identified. The results obtained suggest the circulation of potentially evolving virus strains, with the potential to cross the species barrier.

Keywords: France; bats; coronavirus; genetic diversity; hedgehogs; rodents; wild rabbits; wildlife

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biodiversity; Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Ecosystems; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Symbiosis

Elodie Monchatre-Leroy, Franck Boué, Jean-Marc Boucher, Camille Renault, François Moutou, et al.. Identification of Alpha and Beta Coronavirus in Wildlife Species in France: Bats, Rodents, Rabbits, and Hedgehogs. Viruses, 2017, 9 (12), pp.364. ⟨10.3390/v9120364⟩. ⟨hal-02146348⟩