Viral Metagenomic Profiling of Croatian Bat Population Reveals Sample and Habitat Dependent Diversity
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viruses Article Viral Metagenomic Profiling of Croatian Bat Population Reveals Sample and Habitat Dependent Diversity 1, 2, 1, 1 2 Ivana Šimi´c y, Tomaž Mark Zorec y , Ivana Lojki´c * , Nina Kreši´c , Mario Poljak , Florence Cliquet 3 , Evelyne Picard-Meyer 3, Marine Wasniewski 3 , Vida Zrnˇci´c 4, Andela¯ Cukuši´c´ 4 and Tomislav Bedekovi´c 1 1 Laboratory for Rabies and General Virology, Department of Virology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; [email protected] (I.Š.); [email protected] (N.K.); [email protected] (T.B.) 2 Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; [email protected] (T.M.Z.); [email protected] (M.P.) 3 Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, 51220 Malzéville, France; fl[email protected] (F.C.); [email protected] (E.P.-M.); [email protected] (M.W.) 4 Croatian Biospeleological Society, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; [email protected] (V.Z.); [email protected] (A.C.)´ * Correspondence: [email protected] These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 21 July 2020; Accepted: 11 August 2020; Published: 14 August 2020 Abstract: To date, the microbiome, as well as the virome of the Croatian populations of bats, was unknown. Here, we present the results of the first viral metagenomic analysis of guano, feces and saliva (oral swabs) of seven bat species (Myotis myotis, Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis blythii, Myotis nattereri and Myotis emarginatus) conducted in Mediterranean and continental Croatia. Viral nucleic acids were extracted from sample pools, and analyzed using Illumina sequencing. The presence of 63 different viral families representing all seven Baltimore groups were confirmed, most commonly insect viruses likely reflecting the diet of insectivorous bats. Virome compositions of our samples were largely impacted by the sample type: invertebrate-infecting viruses were most frequently found in feces, bacterial viruses in guano, whereas vertebrate-infecting viruses were most common in swabs. Most vertebrate-infecting virus sequences were assigned to retroviruses, parvoviruses, iridoviruses, and poxviruses. We further report the complete genome sequence of a novel adeno-associated virus, densovirus and a near complete length genome sequence of a novel iflavirus. Additionally, one of the most interesting findings in this study was the difference in viromes between two contrasting habitats, the continental and Mediterranean Croatia. Keywords: bats; viral metagenomics; Croatia; virus; diversity 1. Introduction Bats are the second most species-rich taxonomic group of mammals after rodents, representing 20% of mammalian diversity. Part of the Chiroptera taxonomical order, these flying mammals inhabit all continents except Antarctica [1]. Bats play an essential role in ecosystems globally and humans benefit from their presence in many ways due to their roles for example in seed dispersal, pollination and their guano being used as an organic fertilizer [1]. Many bats, including all European species, are insectivorous and prey on several insect species that can cause high economic losses [1,2]. Viruses 2020, 12, 891; doi:10.3390/v12080891 www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses Viruses 2020, 12, 891 2 of 24 Bat populations have been reported to respond to environmental stressors, including habitat and climate alterations, and have been reported as suitable ecological indicators of habitat quality [3]. At least 53 bat species have been identified in Europe [4] and all of them are fully protected by both national [5] and international legislation [6]. Of these, at least 34 bat species are found in Croatia and have been reported to inhabit a wide range of habitats, ranging from forests, underground objects, as well as human settlements [7,8]. It has been estimated that more than 60% of emerging infectious diseases, result from the spillover of pathogens from animal populations, with a majority of these (71.8%) originating in wildlife reservoirs [9]. The emergence of zoonotic viruses, such as coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2), filoviruses, henipaviruses or lyssaviruses, with high mortality and transmission rates among humans and livestock, and their association with bats, in recent years, has led to an expansion of research on viruses and their chiropteran hosts [10–13]. The use of next generation sequencing (NGS) has facilitated the detection of novel bat viruses reported from across the globe. Bat diversity, geographical distribution, biology as well as gregarious behavior are likely important factors contributing to their ability to host a diverse variety of viruses [1,14]. To date, the microbiome, as well as the virome, of the Croatian populations of bats remains unknown. Aside from Heneberg and colleagues [15], who assessed the health-related suitability of some underground sites for military purposes, only a limited number of samples originating from bats have been reported to be tested, and even those only for rabies and white nose syndrome [16–18]. The present study is a part of a Croatian nationwide project aimed at the surveillance of rabies and other viral pathogens of zoonotic potential in the Croatian bat population, initiated in 2016. Herein, based on metagenomic analysis of NGS data, bat viromes from guano, feces and oral swabs (saliva) obtained from the several bat species, sampled from different locations in continental and Mediterranean Croatia are reconstructed. The primary aim of this study was to facilitate the assessment of the Croatian bat population as a potential reservoir of viral pathogens with zoonotic potential. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Bats, Locations, Sampling, and Ethics Statement Seven species of bats—the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii), Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus), Schreiber’s bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), and Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri)—were included in the present study. Bats were sampled during spring 2016, and spring and autumn 2017, at 11 geographical locations in continental (n = 4; locations 1–4) and Mediterranean (n = 7; locations 5–11) Croatia (Figure1). The sampled locations were stratified according to presence of human activity in the surrounding landscape between natural locations—locations 2, 7 (churches) and 5 (a tunnel)—and those where the surrounding landscape is more impacted by human activity—location 1 (a closed mine) and locations 3, 4, 6, 8–11 (caves) (Figure1). Bats were captured and handled by bat biologists. Captures were facilitated using mist nets (Ecotone Mist Nets, Ecotone, Poland) at the entrances of the caves during night (locations 1, 4, 10 and 11) or using hand nets inside the colony dwellings during the day (locations 2, 3, 5–9). Sampling was repeatedly conducted over the time span of two consecutive years at locations 3, 4 and 11. Recapture of bats at these sites was not evaluated, because the previously captured bats were not marked. During sampling, bats were placed into cotton bags individually and species were determined by bat biologists according to morphological criteria [2]; age, body mass, forearm length, sex, and reproductive status were recorded. Viruses 2020, 12, 891 3 of 24 Viruses 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 27 Figure 1. Locations of bat sampling in continental (green) and Mediterranean (blue) Croatia. Source: Figure 1. Locations of bat sampling in continental (green) and Mediterranean (blue) Croatia. Source: [19]; [19]; permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this map since it is based on free copyright. permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this map since it is based on free copyright. BatsThree were types captured of samples and werehandled collected by bat throughout biologists. this Captures study. were Oral swabsfacilitated (swabs, using i.e., mist saliva) nets (Ecotonewere collected Mist Nets, from Ecotone, individual Poland) bats, fecesat the samples entrances were of collectedthe caves fromduring individual night (locations bats defecating 1, 4, 10 and at 11)the or time using of sampling,hand nets inside and guano the colony samples dwellings were collected during fromthe day below (locations the colonies 2, 3, 5–9). where Sampling available. was repeatedlySwabs and conducted feces samples over werethe time preserved span of in two 500 consecutiveµL of nucleic years acid at stabilization locations 3, 4 reagent and 11. (DNA Recapture/RNA of batsShield; at these Zymo sites Research, was not Irvine, evaluated, CA, USA), because already the previously at the time captured of sampling, bats whereaswere not guano marked. was During only sampling,resuspended bats in were phosphate-bu placed intoff eredcotton saline bags (PBS; individually 10% wt/ vol)and immediatelyspecies were beforedetermined further by processing bat biologists in accordingthe laboratory. to morphological criteria [2]; age, body mass, forearm length, sex, and reproductive status were recorded.All procedures including capture, handling of bats, as well as sample collection, were carried outThree in accordance types of withsamples the ethicalwere collected guidelines throughout and permit this delivered study. Oral by theswabs Croatian (swabs, State i.e., Institute saliva) were for collectedNature Protection from individual (consent bats, number: feces samples