Isolation of Batborne Neglected Zoonotic Agent Issyk-Kul Virus, Italy

Abstract

We isolated Issyk-Kul virus (ISKV) from a bat sampled from Italy in 2021 and conducted ISKV-specific surveillance in bats collected in Italy during 2017–2023. ISKV circulation among synanthropic and sedentary species of bat, such as Savi’s pipistrelle bat ( Hypsugo savii ) in northern Italy, may have public health implications in this region.