Bat Influenza A(HL18NL11) Virus in Fruit Bats, Brazil

Abstract

Screening of 533 bats for influenza A viruses showed subtype HL18NL11 in intestines of 2 great fruit-eating bats (Artibeus lituratus). High concentrations suggested fecal shedding. Genomic characterizations revealed conservation of viral genes across different host species, countries, and sampling years, suggesting a conserved cellular receptor and wide-ranging occurrence of bat influenza A viruses. *Sampling sites were Parque Nacional do Iguau, Atlantic rainforest in western Paran (Iguau); 26 cities across So Paulo state (So Paulo cities); and forest fragment in Paran state (Central Paran state). Bold indicates the site and year in which bats were captured that tested positive for influenza A virus.