Molecular Detection of Bats Associated Influenza Virus

Abstract

As the second-most diverse group of mammals, bats are found on every continent except Antarctica and have been implicated in the spontaneous transmission of several zoonotic virus infections such as Influenza Virus. Bats-associated influenza viruses have been reported from different countries like China, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, South America, and Central America etc. However, there is no study from Pakistan involving bats-associated influenza viruses. For this purpose, bat guano was collected from the natural surroundings in various areas of district Swat province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The samples were processed for viral RNA extraction, followed by viral cDNA synthesis which was subsequently processed for amplification of selected genome region (M gene, partial) of influenza virus. The resulting amplified M gene region were assessed for nucleotide sequencing through Sanger sequencing method. Evolutionary relationship of the amplified sequences of M gene of our isolates QAU-HA2 clustered with a previously reported sequence from Russia (Accession no. KF462347), isolate QAU-HA5, QAU-HA3, QAU-HA4 and QAU-HA9 clustered with sequences reported from Netherland (Accession no. MF145856). We suggest a more detailed molecular study should be done for better understanding of Influenza A viruses circulating in bats.