Extension of the known distribution of a novel clade C betacoronavirus in a wildlife host

Abstract

Disease surveillance in wildlife populations presents a logistical challenge, yet is critical in gaining a deeper understanding of the presence and impact of wildlife pathogens. Erinaceus coronavirus (EriCoV), a clade C Betacoronavirus, was first described in Western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Germany. Here, our objective was to determine whether EriCoV is present, and if it is associated with disease, in Great Britain (GB). An EriCoV-specific BRYT-Green® real-time reverse transcription PCR assay was used to test 351 samples of faeces or distal large intestinal tract contents collected from casualty or dead hedgehogs from a wide area across GB. Viral RNA was detected in 10.8% (38) samples; however, the virus was not detected in any of the 61 samples tested from Scotland. The full genome sequence of the British EriCoV strain was determined using next generation sequencing; it shared 94% identity with a German EriCoV sequence. Multivariate statistical models using hedgehog case history data, faecal specimen descriptions and post-mortem examination findings found no significant associations indicative of disease associated with EriCoV in hedgehogs. These findings indicate that the Western European hedgehog is a reservoir host of EriCoV in the absence of apparent disease.

Eco-Virological Preliminary Study of Potentially Emerging Pathogens in Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) Recovered at a Wildlife Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Northern Italy

“…As previously reported [16,18], we did not observe any clinical disease related to this infection in hedgehogs, that were all reintroduced into the wild within April 2019. Nevertheless, the high mutation rates characterizing members of the Coronaviridae family and their possible successful interspecies host jumps [43] should be considered in the management of hedgehogs admitted to multi-species wildlife rehabilitation centers [44], recommending their return back to the original recovery areas.…”

“…Indeed, this may be associated with a sustained circulation of viruses in their wild recovery areas likely due to frequent and consistent overlaps of home ranges reported in this species [8]. The detected prevalence was higher than that observed by Saldanha et al [18] in Great Britain (10.8%), but in accordance with data reported in Germany (58.9%) and France (50%), respectively [16,17]. From an epidemiological point of view, the high EriCov prevalence observed suggests that, in the study area, E. europaeus could play the role of natural reservoir, competent for infection, replication and excretion of this virus.…”

“…Phylogentic analysis was based on partial sequencing of RdRp gene of Italian sequences compared with those of alpha and betaCoVs originated from hedgehogs, bats, humans and camels. Results showed that EriCoVs from Italian hedgehogs (Figure 1) grouped together with MERS-like betacoronaviruses obtained from Western European hedgehogs sampled in Germany and Great Britain (>92.1% of nucleotide identity) [16,18], forming a subclade within the BetaCoV lineage 2C. This lineage, recently renamed as Merbecovirus subgenus [14], included MERS and MERS-like CoV sequences.…”

“…Two of the four recognized genera of CoVs (i.e., Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus) are probably perpetuated in bat populations [13,14], recently recognized as the evolutionary origins of the MERS-CoV, emerged in 2012 in humans [15]. The recent detection of MERS-related CoVs in hedgehogs from Germany [16], France [17] and Great Britain [18] suggests that E. europaeus, which is belonging to a Chiroptera-related order [19], represents a wild reservoir of betacoronaviruses known as Erinaceus CoVs (EriCoVs).…”

COVID-19 Pandemic as an Indicator of «Blank Spots» in Epidemiology and Infectious Pathology

“…MERSподобные вирусы выделены из фе калий европейских ежей (Erinaceus europaeus) в Германии [26], Франции [27], на Британских островах [28], а также амурских ежей на китай ском Дальнем Востоке [29].…”